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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: kt. on May 09, 2009, 22:29:41

Title: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: kt. on May 09, 2009, 22:29:41
Almost 2 months ago I sowed some boltardy beetroot in a plastic container in my greenhouse.  3-4 inch spacings.  There is also some spring onions and carrots in the same container, both doing fine.  I now have 6 inch tall I sowed some I thought I should of had babysized beetroot but no Will they fatten up or do I need to thin them a bit more? 

Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: Eristic on May 09, 2009, 22:35:27
At 3-4 inch spacings you should be OK. Personally I think you are a bit impatient. All good things come to those that wait. Keep well watered and don't forget to feed.

I grow beet to golfball size in my polystyrene boxes when space permits in the polytunnel.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: telboy on May 09, 2009, 22:41:45
Crikey kt, you started early!
Plant some seeds out as well, germination is fast at the mo.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: kt. on May 09, 2009, 23:10:08
Quote from: telboy on May 09, 2009, 22:41:45
Crikey kt, you started early!
Plant some seeds out as well, germination is fast at the mo.
Started early under glass for an early crop ::) ::)    Just sowed 2 rows of Boltardy outdoors last weekend as a first for monthly successional sowing through till July / August
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on May 12, 2009, 12:53:54
Hi, I'm new to growing Beetroot and have a couple of Q's. Roughly how long from sowing to eating?! basically mine are about 4" high and I'm going to plant them out in the next couple of days, so how long to maturity? I'm growing Detroit if that helps

Thanks
1066
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: kt. on May 12, 2009, 13:00:54
Quote from: 1066 on May 12, 2009, 12:53:54
Roughly how long from sowing to eating?! how long to maturity? I'm growing Detroit if that helps

Usually around 14 weeks.

Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on May 12, 2009, 13:12:56
Thanks KT
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: daxzen on May 12, 2009, 13:25:52
beetroot is a great crop leave are great in salads take a leaf off each plant - they dont miss them!

the old view was that you could transplant them and that they are best sown thinly in situ my wife has perfected transplanting the thinnings into catch crop positions

i have not tried growing them in cells - let me know how they go!
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on May 12, 2009, 13:35:05
daxzen, yes I'll let you know how I get on, to be honest I'm only really doing them in cells as I'm on heavy clay that is gradually getting more workable but still not capable of sowing in situ, I do this with the majority of stuff I grow.
Also planning on doing some later sowings

Quote from: daxzen on May 12, 2009, 13:25:52

my wife has perfected transplanting the thinnings into catch crop positions  /quote]

That's something I'd also like to perfect but am way off that yet!!

1066
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: daxzen on May 12, 2009, 13:38:41
it will be great to know how you get on

the seedlings that she transplanta re at two three leaf stage max - i guess my wife's secret is to allow the tap root to keep growing without a check



Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: Old bird on May 12, 2009, 14:34:58
I have never given much thought much about beetroot!

I generally bung the seeds in - up it comes - and it gets eaten as leaves in salad and when the bulb looks about the right size then I have beetroot.

I start from golf ball size to wherever it goes to!

I have never had to transplant them or anything tho - I thought that they  generally considered "easy" like radish or so!

Old Bird

;D

Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: daxzen on May 12, 2009, 15:20:12
 me too
but beetroot s so easy and many people ignore it

beetroot is a staple in my book and the more i can get into my diet the better

we pickle it as we get a glut and keep pating right through to september

some of my stuff overwintered in a depp bed with heavy mulch - good eating and fresh as we needed it
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on May 12, 2009, 15:49:37
Quote from: Old bird on May 12, 2009, 14:34:58
I have never had to transplant them or anything tho - I thought that they  generally considered "easy" like radish or so!

Old Bird

;D


I think they are meant to be easy, but as a 1st timer its always nice to check and besides that lump of clay I have that is called my allotment does determine how I do things  ;D

1066
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: manicscousers on May 12, 2009, 16:17:39
we kept some over winter in damp compost, the leaves kept growing and we were eating them in salads until 3 weeks ago  ;D
mind you, the last bulbs were woody
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: sawfish on May 12, 2009, 18:12:24
its the one veg I just cant seem to grow well at all, no matter what I do. I'm constantly moaning about it on this forum.

>:(
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: shirlton on May 12, 2009, 18:25:11
We always start some off in Feb in cells and these just become edible a few weeks before the outdoor sowings. You don't gain that much from sowing in cells but we are impatient. so even a week is ok.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: greenstar on May 12, 2009, 21:04:33
Maybe it's a Glasgow thing Sawfish - I've never managed to get anything worth eating off them either.  I'm still trying them again this year - this is the first time that I've tried sowing them in a seed tray and transplanting them when they've germinated.  They've been outside for about two week now and aren't looking particularly happy.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: Eristic on May 12, 2009, 22:12:31
Forget any nonsense about not being able to transplant beetroot. It's at least as easy as cabbages.

I sow my seeds in 3" pots, transplant them to boxes then transplant them again to the big outside world. Not only does this give me more control but saves a lot of growing space as they are only out in rows to fatten up.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: grannyjanny on May 12, 2009, 22:29:07
We have a lovely gentleman on our site, 80 this year. He transplants his beetroot, the cylindrical one & he says that the transplanted ones are ready quicker than the ones he leaves in.
Janet
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: sawfish on May 13, 2009, 10:24:02
Quote from: greenstar on May 12, 2009, 21:04:33
Maybe it's a Glasgow thing Sawfish - I've never managed to get anything worth eating off them either.  I'm still trying them again this year - this is the first time that I've tried sowing them in a seed tray and transplanting them when they've germinated.  They've been outside for about two week now and aren't looking particularly happy.

I've done it all greenstar, lots of ways.

good luck
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on June 16, 2009, 07:04:14
Quote from: daxzen on May 12, 2009, 13:38:41
it will be great to know how you get on

the seedlings that she transplanta re at two three leaf stage max - i guess my wife's secret is to allow the tap root to keep growing without a check


Well Daxen, the results are in, see a pic in my gallery. The results so far are great, tasty, not woody and so far a decent size. So will get some more sown and transplanted (again)  ;D
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: antipodes on June 16, 2009, 10:43:15
radish easy? I have never been able to grow a decent one in three years and I am definitely not going to try again. it's a waste of my time.
last year I transplanted the beetroot thinnings and that worked OK but on the whole they were quite small. maybe I need to water them more.
Title: Re: Beetroot not forming bulbs
Post by: 1066 on June 16, 2009, 10:59:33
I'm convinced it's beginners luck with the radishes and beetroot with me - we'll see what happens next year   :P
By the way just enjoyed looking at your blog and the great pics Antipodes

1066