BEET SEEDLINGS READY FOR TRANSPLANT FULL

When choosing varieties, look for those with an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which shows they grow well and crop reliably – see our list of AGM fruit and veg.

Many varieties produce attractive foliage with dark red veins, while ‘Bull’s Blood’ has particularly attractive glossy deep-red leaves that make a colourful addition to salads. The leaves are edible too and can be used like spinach or eaten raw when young. The paler colours are easier to prepare in the kitchen, as they don’t stain your hands, however the rich red and yellow pigments have beneficial antioxidant properties.Ĭolour can also indicate flavour, with darker roots usually having a richer, more earthy taste and pale ones being milder and sweeter. They vary in colour too – as well as the usual deep purple-red, there are varieties with crimson, orange, yellow, white or even pink-and-white striped roots. Most varieties produce rounded or oval roots, but there are also choices with long, cylindrical roots. Bolt-resistant varieties are a reliable option, especially for early sowings, which are otherwise prone to bolting (flowering prematurely, which suppresses root growth). There are many beetroot varieties to choose from. RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - 17-21 July 2024.

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Choggia beets, which are spiraled with red and white, are another delicious option. For variety, try planting both red and yellow beets. They're also delicious grated raw into salads. Gently brush off any soil, put the beets into a plastic bag (do not seal it up), and store them in your refrigerator crisper.īeets can be boiled, baked, roasted or pickled. Trim off the leaves, keeping a ½' tuft of stems at the top of the root. Beets can also be harvested and stored indoors for a month or more. As temperatures continue to fall, you can cover the area with row cover fabric to prevent the roots from freezing. A fall crop of beets will tolerate temperatures down to about 20 degrees. Depending on the variety, most beets will still be tender and flavorful, even when the root measures 4 or 5 inches across.Įarly season crops such as lettuce and peas can be replaced by a midsummer planting of beets. If you want the most food for the garden space, wait until the root has filled out to several inches in diameter. Cook the leaves as well as the roots - all parts of the plant are delicious. Photo: Ann Whitmanįor baby beets, harvest when the root is no more than 1 or 2 inches in diameter. To keep the soil consistently moist during germination, cover the area with row cover until the seedlings break the soil surface. Beets are cold tolerant, so they can be planted in early spring, several weeks before the last frost date.

BEET SEEDLINGS READY FOR TRANSPLANT FULL

Like most vegetables, beets prefer growing in full sun and they like to get about 1' of water each week. Ideally you'll wind up with about 9 plants per square foot. Once the seeds have germinated, you will need to thin out (and eat!) some of the extra seedlings. It's important to keep the soil consistently moist during this period. It takes several days or even a week for the outer seed coat to soften and allow the seeds inside to germinate. Each beet seed is actually a hard little cluster of 2 to 4 seeds. Buy Organic Beet Seeds Planting the Beetsīeets should be planted from seed, directly into the garden.

You can harvest the roots at any time between midsummer and late fall. Just sow the seeds and let the plants grow for about 6-8 weeks. They don't need staking, pruning or fussing. They're almost never troubled by pests or disease. Beets are one of the easiest vegetables you can grow.

Beet seedlings ready for transplant