Beetroot Tips

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

Every year I sow beetroots. Now I'm not saying they are always a complete failure, but I have never been able to grow them to a nice size, say just smaller than a tennis ball. They are nearly always a little larger than a golf ball. I've tried a number of different varieties too.

Do you have any tips please?

TEYman

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

[Obelixx]

Accept.  Be happy.  Most chefs prefer them golf ball size for extra flavour.  Just make sure they get enough water so they're juicy and small and not shrivelled and small.

[pumkinlover]

Good advice ;D
I cannot offer any more as they seem to grow well enough without any special treatment. I keep them weeded, do not feed them other than normal ground preperation. This year they have stayed smallish due to dry weather I think. but I am happy with that.
Size isn't everything  ;)

[saddad]

That's what they all say.....  ::)

[gavinjconway]

On my rooftop veg patch tubs I've always just planted and left till they are all growing well and when thumb size I thin out a bit and eat the thinnings. Do you thin them out?  I grow both round and cylindrical and always have had good results. Sometimes the germination has been poor but growth has been good.. I find they just love to grow. I do feed with a general liquid feed by watering can when I remember. As a root crop nothing should hamper them if ground is prepared..

[BarriedaleNick]

Try Alto as a variety - they grow long so they can get quite big but stay sweet and have a great flavour.  They seem to like a bit of muck dug in and I start em of in modules

[aj]

Definitely play with the varieties.

I got hold of some Dobbie's purple earlier this year, and sowed them. Planted out at the plot and turned my back and they were the size of footballs. We [me and the lottie neighbour who snaffled one off me] are saving them for seed next year.

Bearing in mind they were very old seed, I am chuffed to bits with them.  ;D

[Mr Smith]

Never had a problem with Beetroot, I find that I throw it in and It just grows, don't even bother to thin them out, but next year having more allotment time I will thin my Beetroot out and hope for even better Beetroot on my Dinner, :)

[bionear2]

Started in a drill full of compost, given plenty of water and a handful of Growmore. Mine are still growing.

Have tried all sorts over the years,but now stick with Detroit, sweet and no earthy taste.

[artichoke]

My beetroot have been very disappointing until I took to germinating the seeds in small boxes of compost, then planting them out at measured spaces.

One of my boxes languished and starved, and a neighbour commented on them as I eventually planted them out: "Not very promising..." but they have done very well. Tennis ball sized (might have grown bigger if left) and very tender and tasty.

[manicscousers]

Cylindra and detroit, sowed early in fibre pots and planted out when the roots started to show. Brilliant, will do it again next year  :)

[luckycharlie]

   Our beetroot did really well this year. Just got thrown in thinly. Had loads, only trouble is  we have jars and jars of pickled beetroot !!! :) :) Anyone knows how long it will keep!

X Chas

[Mrs Ava]

I have had monster roots this year, and they haven't been woody at all.  I sowed in a module tray, 2 or 3 boltardy seeds per module, stood in a tray to soak up water then left them to germinate.  I did this early March and had them outside - no bottom heat or propagator.  Once up and on their second set of leaves, so just about big enough to handle, planted them out, not thinning, keeping the little clusters together.  Watered in and left them to it.  As they started to swell, I removed the largest root, when little bigger than a large marble, and they were sweet cooked leaves and all.  The next gather, again, largest roots, when they were approaching pingpong ball size, but I had masses and couldn't keep up and to be honest, they just pushed each other out of the way and got bigger and bigger.  I still have at least 20 on the plot, all bigger than fist size.  I will never direct sow them again. 

P.s.  Did the same with Bulls Blood and they produced smaller roots but still big ones and lovely leaves into the bargain.

[saddad]

If you've done it right Charlie... at least a year... then the colour tends to go...  :(

[Ninnyscrops.]

Watering, watering, watering.........................if they run away and you don't get time to pick them small enough for eating, pickling or you have a glut and not enough jars.



Using a 1953 recipe  ;)

Ninnys

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

So it seems an idea would be to sow in modules then transplant rather than sow direct. Never tried that always thought they didn't like root disturbance. I'll give that a go next year I think ...

TEYman

[gavinjconway]

sowing in modules is interesting... I thought they were like carrots and don't not like their roots messed about with..  I'll remember that next time I grow them.. 2013 now for them as I have too many bottled for now..

[luckycharlie]

If you've done it right Charlie... at least a year... then the colour tends to go...  :(

Thanks.

Anyone for hotpot and beetroot tonight?


X Chas

[Obelixx]

I've sown beetroot direct for years but the last 3 have been a complete failure so in mid summer I finally sowed some in modules - one seed lump per module - and they all germinated and all got planted out when big enough and are all now growing into proper plants but ever so slowly cos we're still having a drought.  i've taken to watering them so i can harvest something from them before the snows come.

[gazza1960]

No tips to offer just 2 year experience.
1st year tried Boltardy
this year Detroit 2
both have grown well from seed planting in raised beds  4 ins tween each seed with some horses doins in.
Reg watered,and have had triffic results both years.
Interesting to read about moduling though,but so far all seem to germinate through the season straight in the dirt.

Gaznjude