Hi Guys 'n Gals - I want to try beetroot in modules this year as I had a terrible germination at the plot this year.. My question is: From one seed cluster that I grow per module I will obviously get a few plants... so how do I plant them out when they are ready. The exercise is also aimed at making it easier to plant out - ideally the plan is to dib a hole and plonk the module in - simples..
3-4 years ago I did modules but now direct sow. I planted modules about 4 inches apart and you may still need to thin them out at some stage. What about direct sow about 2 inches apart then thin out. Many people lost beetroot seed this year due to rotting in the wet ground. Even those on our site who transplanted did not do too well this year.
I use a plug tray, 60 plus to a tray.
I sow one seed in each plug, I then thin out to one plant per plug by using scissors to cut off any extras.
Once there is a good rootball that holds the compost together, I plant out by dibbing a small hole and just pushing the plug in.
Works well, but this year my sown direct ones did just as well, so next year I don't know if I will bother with the plugs.
Thanks for the replies - i'll do a bit of both as a test because I really had a bag germination sowing directly.
Our early direct sewn beetroot failed miserably this year so sowed some in modules later and they are fantastic. I don't thin them. Just put them in as they are and take the spare ones out when they are big enough to eat. Waste nowt me.
I always go in modules and generally grow Alto which is a long cylindrical type. If they produce more than one seedling then you can split them but I'd go with Crispy and nip one out.
I get way better result than direct sowing and dont waste much seed.
I sow in modules, one seed per hole but don't bother thinning. I plant out the entire module as the young beetroot jostle for space quite happily. Once the roots have started to swell, I take the first thinnings when they are the size of big marbles, sweet and juicy, the next thinning when they are pingpong ball size and so on. Always been incredibly successful and I usually have more beets than I can eat and end up giving them away. I have used this method on several different varieties and always had good success.
Thanks for all the replies... as always good info from all of you.
I too had miserable success with the direct sown beetroots and had a much better harvest from the seeds sown in modules. I don't bother about thinning them out either. I just plant the whole module grown clump in the ground and they seem to do ok.
I done some in modules this year for the 1st time as my direct sown were very poor germination, 1 seed per module no thinning out and planted out 4-6 inch's apart and they done superb best beetroot i have grown good size and they over took what of the direct sown had come up, think i will keep to this method now..
Steve.
Ok - I'm going to do modules... thanks for all the replies.
I always grow in modules, a couple of things to bear in mind from my experiences...
Whilst it's fine to start them in quite small units (60's or 40's) they probably want to be in 24's once you thin down to single seedligs per module. I sow in 24's, but then I grow almsot everything in 24's so I have a lot of them, I find watering can get a bit critical in the littler ones adn the 15's adn 12's are too big.
Monogerm seed is your very good friend at this point. I recommend the variety Moneta as it's basically a monogerm BOltardy, and I find they're great at least up to cricket ball size (never let them get bigger so they might be OK bigger).
RUn them through propagators as and when you have a gap or just sow them in an unheated GH out of scorching sunshine in April and plant out as and when yo get a moment in May. Beware of slugs and pigeon s on the trays through, I lost three trays to the buggers this year, probaby pigeons...
Thanks Chrisx - good bit of advices there..
I always sow in modules (24s) not to fussed about keeping to one seed per cell and just plant out each cell when big enough to handle. Never bother thinning other than by harvesting the larger ones in each group as they develop. Done it for a couple of years now and get a great crop everytime. Wouldn't win any shows but that's not what I grow for
Quote from: steve76 on September 11, 2012, 21:37:52
I done some in modules this year for the 1st time as my direct sown were very poor germination, 1 seed per module no thinning out and planted out 4-6 inch's apart and they done superb best beetroot i have grown good size and they over took what of the direct sown had come up, think i will keep to this method now..
Steve.
It always works for me and, on this occasion, I think it's less work than direct sowing. Weed control is easier, spacing is perfect and you can transplant in batches to spread the crop.
Thanks again for all the replies... i'm now convinced!!
I did modules for the first time this year, one seed per cell. I then planted whole cells out about 8" apart. I had excellent results and the growing beetroots pushed each other apart. I got a lot of large roots and will be doing the same next year
I put one seed in a small newspaper pot that I make and then when they germinate I leave only one seed per pot. I plant the whole newspaper pot into the ground and I have a great crop every year
Quote from: kippers garden on September 16, 2012, 08:48:55
I put one seed in a small newspaper pot that I make and then when they germinate I leave only one seed per pot. I plant the whole newspaper pot into the ground and I have a great crop every year
That's what I did the first year I tried germinating beetroot and transplanting. I found it worked well but used a lot of compost and took up lots of space.
The following year I used some small 3/4" cells / modules. They grew just as well, were easy to water, transport and transplant. The beetroot also "kept" longer as the paper-pots tend to disintergrate - this allowed me to grow up to 120 plants in one module and transplant them in batches.
Can I still sow beetroots? When is the latest time I can sow them? I have some seeds of a few different varieties and would love to squeeze some in the plot if I can..
Quote from: Tora on September 16, 2012, 10:55:55
Can I still sow beetroots? When is the latest time I can sow them? I have some seeds of a few different varieties and would love to squeeze some in the plot if I can..
Too late now I guess... wit till spring..