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Beetroot overcrowded? Can I fix them?

charlotte_jarvischarlotte_jarvis Posts: 7
in Fruit & veg
Hi there,

I am completely new to growing fruit and veg this year but have a few things planted nevertheless. Anyway, I think I planted my beetroot seedlings too close together a couple of months ago..

The one side died off, the other side seem to be doing well looking at the leaves but I'm worried there won't be room to form the actual beets. I've been to scared to look as I don't want to kill them.

They're in a homemade wooden crate with weed fabric, plenty depth but not enough space between them. Can I remove them and replant somewhere bigger or will it stunt/kill them? 

Also I read somewhere you can start harvesting the leaves, how to I do that without comprising the rest of the plants life cycle? Sorry if my questions seem silly but I've read so much and really am trying but I'm obviously just not a natural at this 😅

P.s I think they were darky variety if that helps 
Thanks,
Charlotte 

Posts

  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    Some people actually prefer growing them in a clump so I wouldn't worry too much. I do a bit of both .My main thought would be be one of space generally, the more plants in a space generally speaking the smaller the beet.   This video is worth a look https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iWUwS9P_GOs
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Hi Charlotte, not an expert but I would harvest the leaves/plants now so that they are thinned to about an 1" apart.  Then when they get a bit bigger you can use the small beets that you thin to let the others grow.

    Mine are usually about 2"-3" apart but I grow in a veg bed and they get harvested from ping pong ball size up to a bit smaller than a tennis ball. Hope that helps.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We always over-seed, as germination is a bit hit and miss.  We have to thin them out, and space several inches apart.  Too close together and you will end up with tiny beets that compete with one another.  Yours are really well developed, so I would do this now, before they get any bigger.

    Try not to disturb the roots too much, and keep them well watered for the first week or two.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Eat the ,", thinnings" cost a lot of money in a mixed salad
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Great that you have had such good germination.
    Wish we could in the SW have the same but all still indoors before planting out.
    As others have said eat the thinnings.
  • charlotte_jarvischarlotte_jarvis Posts: 7
    Astro said:
    Some people actually prefer growing them in a clump so I wouldn't worry too much. I do a bit of both .My main thought would be be one of space generally, the more plants in a space generally speaking the smaller the beet.   This video is worth a look https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iWUwS9P_GOs
    Thanks Astro, I'm not worried if they are on the smaller side but they probably would benefit from a but more space then :)
  • charlotte_jarvischarlotte_jarvis Posts: 7
    KeenOnGreen said:
    We always over-seed, as germination is a bit hit and miss.  We have to thin them out, and space several inches apart.  Too close together and you will end up with tiny beets that compete with one another.  Yours are really well developed, so I would do this now, before they get any bigger.

    Try not to disturb the roots too much, and keep them well watered for the first week or two.
    Thank you, do you have any tips on how to do that? Do I just pull out some and leave the rest? Or do I take them all out to repot elsewhere?
  • charlotte_jarvischarlotte_jarvis Posts: 7
    Nanny Beach said:
    Eat the ,", thinnings" cost a lot of money in a mixed salad
    Yes you are right, I spend a fortune on those bistro salad bags, so I have some rocket growing too and I planted some lollo loose lettuce seeds we shall see if they germinate or not :) Thank you
  • charlotte_jarvischarlotte_jarvis Posts: 7
    bertrand-mabel said:
    Great that you have had such good germination.
    Wish we could in the SW have the same but all still indoors before planting out.
    As others have said eat the thinnings.
    I have to be honest, I got these from store in little cells and panic planted all 6 of them as I didn't think they would stay in the cells for long. They were tiny and weak and we had awful winds and cold and the leaves were dying but I nipped some off and eventually to my surprise they got stronger (I lost half). I'm not sure how they have survived :)  

    I have planted some other things from seed on my window shelf though and had really good germination, but now I have about 20 tomato plants growing on all my window shelves. I might gift some later on. Sadly I lost all my courgettes because I thought the weather was warming up but it didn't :neutral:
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