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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: MaryM on April 20, 2006, 15:15:36

Title: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: MaryM on April 20, 2006, 15:15:36
..to sew the seeds yet?
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Merry Tiller on April 20, 2006, 15:44:54
No, but it IS time to sow them now ;D
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: weedbusta on April 20, 2006, 17:39:26
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.
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Alimo on April 20, 2006, 18:44:14
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: froglets on April 20, 2006, 18:46:53
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)
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: MrsKP on April 20, 2006, 18:49:38
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.
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: weedbusta on April 20, 2006, 20:32:40
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.
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: MrsKP on April 20, 2006, 20:43:52
trays it is then  ;D
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: SMP1704 on April 20, 2006, 21:17:28
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: fozzylozzy on April 20, 2006, 21:31:36
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: simon404 on April 20, 2006, 21:36:57
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  :)
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: tricia on April 20, 2006, 21:53:40
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: carloso on April 20, 2006, 22:03:07
well i took a gamble and put them between my potatoe mounds ! on Wednesday !


carl
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: sandersj89 on April 20, 2006, 22:15:44
Dont forget, beetroot are not a root veg, they are in fact swollen stems so are very happy to be transplanted.

Jerry
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 20, 2006, 22:24:42
I will sow my second lot tomorrow and continue sowing once every couple of weeks up until September!  ;D
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: kcarlisle on April 21, 2006, 09:59:26
Is it ok to start beetroot off in modules and if so, what size is it best for them to be before transplanting?
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: sandersj89 on April 21, 2006, 10:15:43
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Rhys on April 21, 2006, 11:58:10
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Alimo on April 21, 2006, 13:39:24
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
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: bennettsleg on April 21, 2006, 13:41:59
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...
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: BEastall on April 21, 2006, 15:47:14
I sowed a small batch into those jiffy seven things last weekend in an unheated greenhouse, will sow further small batches at two week intervals.

Brian.
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: MaryM on April 21, 2006, 16:37:03
Hi-what is a jiffy seven please?
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: Niamh on April 25, 2006, 14:03:46
Follow link to T&M website
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/us/en/product/m13600/1

or as the blurb says " Compressed peat blocks containing a specially formulated fertiliser. Simply add to water and watch them swell ready to use. Ideal for sowing or pricking out seed, or taking cuttings."

Pretty neat, no?

Niamh
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: busy_lizzie on April 25, 2006, 14:32:00
I sowed one row of Boltardy beetroot seeds at my allotment on Sunday and will do another row tomorrow.  It usually grows very well, and like Jerry says it is easy to re-plant the thinnings when they come up. busy_lizzie
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: MrsKP on April 25, 2006, 18:57:42
i sowed my Perfect 3's in plastic cups three days ago in a heated prop and already they're starting to come through .......nice wee purply shoots too.  don't know what colour i thought they'd be but they made me laugh.

;D
Title: Re: Beetroot-is it time?
Post by: growmore on April 26, 2006, 08:35:05
You can sow them in the ground now ..I have a row just showing through ..
here in south Yorks..Cheers ..Jim