Beetroot-is it time?

[MaryM]

..to sew the seeds yet?

[MaryM]

[Merry Tiller]

No, but it IS time to sow them now ;D

[weedbusta]

hi mary
i started mine in a heated greenhouse a few weeks ago, but some have been in a cold frame for over a week and are surviving well. good fun having babies tom cruise style........not even one yell!! have fun.

[Alimo]

Hi Mary,

I started mine in an unheated greenhouse 25th March.  As an experiment I sowed some under a cloche on March 11th.  All the greenhouse ones germinated and were transplanted out 11th April.  I sowed some more in the greenhouse on that day too.  They're now all germinated, so will be planted out some time next week.  Of the experimental ones only 2 have germinated..

I am in far south west of Cornwall - so milder here than the rest of the country, but you should be fine I reckon to start them off now.

Alison

[froglets]

Sowed some outdoors in cheshire just over 2 weeks ago and the first seedlings are through ( although the rest may get washed away if this rain continues)

[MrsKP]

i'm planning on sowing mine in their final position (due to lack of space etc) and was leaving it a bit longer to avoid any late frosts.  I've had a couple of beds covered with fleece and polytunnel for a while now, so should i or shouldn't i ?  Any help from the weegies ??

Cheers.

[weedbusta]

too scared to plant them out.... wee craw bag that am ur!! put some in a cold frame and theyre surviving. i'l take a wander on saturday when i'm back up the plot and ask around to see what everyone else is doing. i'm n-shift just now and hubbys in charge of watering til then. eejit forgot the coldframe today grrr.

[MrsKP]

trays it is then  ;D

[SMP1704]

I read that Beetroot is a cold season plant.  So on that basis, I sowed some in paper pots (to avoid root disturbance) back in early Feb and some more at the end of Feb.  Both lots did really well in the mini greenhouse and so I planted them out on lottie the first weekend in April.  They now seem much happier, putting on lots of leaf, I did cover with fleece when frost was threatened, but so far the only casualty has been to a clumsy fox's big paw ::)

One thing tho, when planting out I forgot that I was planting in raised beds and could put them closer together, so have left 12" between rows. ::)  My question is, would it be a good idea to direct sow another row between the transplants?

Thanks

[fozzylozzy]

I sowed 1 half row of 'Detroit' and 1 half row of 'Boltardy' on Sunday, I'm guessing now is the 'right' time! ???

Louisa x

[simon404]

I sowed a row today (Derby, east midlands)  :) smp it depends how you're thinking of weeding, if you want to run a hoe between your rows then you'll need to leave the present spacing  :)

[tricia]

I grew Wodan in modules and planted them out in a raised bed under fleece two weeks ago. Here in Torbay, Devon, they are leafing up well. My friend has done the same with Boltardy, though he does not have them under fleece. They look even better than the Wodan!

Tricia

[carloso]

well i took a gamble and put them between my potatoe mounds ! on Wednesday !


carl

[sandersj89]

Dont forget, beetroot are not a root veg, they are in fact swollen stems so are very happy to be transplanted.

Jerry

[Mrs Ava]

I will sow my second lot tomorrow and continue sowing once every couple of weeks up until September!  ;D

[kcarlisle]

Is it ok to start beetroot off in modules and if so, what size is it best for them to be before transplanting?

[sandersj89]

Yes, fine in modules.

I use things ranging from root trainers to 3" pots to modular trays, (15 cells to standard seed tray).

Whatever comes to hand really.

Jeremy

[Rhys]

I began sowing my 'Boltardy' in February in my polytunnel and should begin eating them next week ;)
By the way, I had my first crop of new potatoes (Aaron Pilot) yesterday -  they were delicious. ;D

[Alimo]

Mmmm lucky you Rhys.  My tatoes (Aaron Pilot)  are up and at em, enjoying the rain yesterday.   It'll still be June before I'm enjoying them tho.... 

I do have a big pot in the greenhouse tho - they should be ready in a couple of weeks I hope.

Alison

[bennettsleg]

Haven't had time to get mine in yet, but this w/end will sow singly and experiment with clusters.  What's that phrase again? Sow 3, let them all survive, pull at the same time... err...