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Growing Beetroot, also Beets

(Beta vulgaris)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
		P	P	P		P	P

(Best months for planting Beetroot in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 45°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
Harvest in 7-10 weeks. Recommended soil pH 5.5 -6.5.
Compatible with: Onions, Silverbeet (Swiss Chard), Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill, Peas. Strawberries
Avoid growing with: Asparagus, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Spinach

Seedlings before thinning
Young beetroot

Soak seeds in water 24 hours before planting so that you can separate the seeds. Thinning is nearly always required as seedlings emerge from a seedball of several seeds. If you don't thin them, you will get a number of rather pathetic plants which don't grow to an edible size. Harvest in 55 - 70 days but will keep in ground for longer. Tolerates light frost.

Keep well-watered as dry beetroot develop a woody and inedible core.

For tasty and tender beetroot, start harvesting at golfball-size.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beetroot

Apart from boiling whole for salads, beetroot roast well, cut in wedges.
They also make a tasty salad grated raw with carrot and a little fresh orange juice.

Your comments and tips

12 May 13, Anne (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I put the "lid" of a beetroot in some water and the leaves sprouted, so I dipped it in rooting powder and put the lot in a pot. Now the leaves are continuing to grow. What's happening under the soil? Are little beets going to grow? How do I make them grow? Do I separate out the clumps of leaf and replant each in a pot or in the garden? Advice please! Thank you
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07 Apr 13, moideen mampadan (Australia - sub-tropical climate): can i grow beetroot in polyhouse?
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20 Feb 13, RAFFAELE BECKETT (Australia - tropical climate): I LIVE IN A REGION OF THE PHILIPPINES WHICH IS VERY TROPICAL,MY WIFE SUFFERS FROM REALLY BAD ANEMIA AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT BEETROOT JUICE WOULD REALLY BENEFIT HER,I CAN HAVE THE SEEDS SENT FROM THE UK,BUT WILL BEETROOT GROW HERE ?
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14 Dec 12, Davin (Australia - temperate climate): Dont throw the leaves away! there are heaps of recipe's online that can utilise them! its like throwing away mushroom stems and only eating the top! they are all edible and have their own nutritional benefits!
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10 Jan 13, Ferran (Australia - temperate climate): Did you know that they are closely related to chard? however they were selectively bread and now are two different types of plants.
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13 Nov 12, Desiree Gooding (Australia - sub-tropical climate): What is the best soil type to grow beetroot in the Caribbean?
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11 Nov 12, sheila dunn (New Zealand - temperate climate): Should any fertilizer be dug into the soil pror to planting. Thanks
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03 Nov 12, Mohan (Australia - temperate climate): The critical element for growing beetroot is Boron absorbed between pH 4.5 to 6. It is best sprayed in very very small quantities, since the safe range is 0.3 ppm to 1.0 part per million. Borax(9 mg per one litre water) or Boric acid (4 mg per one litre water) or a readymade spray called solubor may be used.
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20 Oct 12, joy (Australia - temperate climate): what soil to put beetroot in
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01 Nov 12, Paul (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Joy, See my reply to a similar question on 5 September.
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Post a question, comment or tip about Beetroot

Replying to:

MAY 30 Hi Helen I have awooden stake which Ive painted white it is 25mm x 25mm x 2 metres long ive mark it with a black marker pen at 100 mm along the entire stake.This gives me a guide when planting seeds or seedling.Answer to your question if you want to use the beetroot when they small 100mm is alright if you want to grow them larger 150mm. (space can be a problem.) Arthur the mad gardner

- arthur

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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