‘Most varieties grow to the best root size when thinned to two or three inches apart,’ she says. As Florence points out, growing too close together can result in stunting and distortion. ![]() ‘High densities yield a high number of small beets, while low densities yield fewer larger beets.’ Yes, beets are great crops for a small vegetable garden, but don’t push your luck and cram in too many. ‘Planting density is the most important factor when achieving the best size and shape,’ says Florence. It doesn’t work that way: more likely, you’ll wind up with smaller or meagre harvests. Perhaps the biggest beetroot growing mistake you can make is to leave every seedling you grow in place, in the hopes of a bigger yield. Alternatively, if you are looking to incorporate beetroot into your container gardening ideas, sow thinly into large pots of dampened multi-purpose compost that has been enriched with fertilizer, she says. If you are sowing direct outdoors, Homes & Gardens gardening expert Ruth Hayes recommends sowing thinly into one-inch deep drills. And if you are moving out seedlings started indoors, harden them off for a week first so they toughen up their leaf layers. Check soil pH, which needs to be 6-7.5 (neutral or slightly acidic). They do well in an east, west or south-facing garden, though partial shade helps on hot days. The best beets benefit from at least six hours of sunshine a day. Garden expert Rebecca Boyar at West Coast Seeds also recommends a low-nitrogen fertilizer to support and encourage root development (higher nitrogen content can be introduced later if you want to boost leaf production). ![]() ![]() This will also help to remove any stones or chunks of debris that could impede root growth or lead to misshapen beetroots.Īdd well-rotted garden compost or aged organic matter prior to planting. Rake over the soil a few weeks before sowing or planting in order to loosen up the earth. Nikhil Arora advises choosing a well-draining soil for optimal growth. You will get better beets in loose fertile, sandy and loamy soils. Growing beets in the wrong placeĪlthough beetroots cope well in a variety of soils, they are not likely to flourish or yield generously in poor earth, compacted clay-based soils or parched ground. ‘Sow bolt-resistant varieties such as Boltardy and Action under cloches in mid-March, or sow into modules under cover and transplant out in April,’ says Lucy. ![]() Just choose varieties that are less likely to bolt (which can happen with some breeds if planted too soon). That said, beetroot is one of the best vegetables to grow in a greenhouse if you want to start sowing a little earlier. ‘Ideally, position over designated beds two weeks before you plan to sow,’ she adds.įor the best beets, sow from April to July. ‘Rigid plastic and glass tunnel cloches are the most insulating,’ says Homes & Gardens veg expert Lucy Chamberlain. Use cloches and cold frames to preheat the ground before sowing (these also keep seedlings safe in the first few weeks). ‘Wait until the soil temperature reaches 50˚F for optimal germination,’ says Nikhil. Avoid planting too early in the season to protect plants from frost damage. As you decide when to plant beets, Back to the Roots co-founder Nikhil Arora urges caution.
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