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beetroot
Logan
Posts: 2,532
in Fruit & veg
For a few years I've been trying to grow beetroot. Last year I started them off in modules then planted them out, they just sat there not doing anything, I put a lot of compost in I watered them, nothing. This year I put more compost in and sowed direct they came up but they have a few leaves but not doing much, has anyone got any suggestions.
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Hi Logan, This is my very first post so if I miss stuff or whatever - forgive please.
I think everyone has something they just can't grow whatever they do! My frustrations are carrots and parsley but beetroot has never been a problem I'm happy to say as I love it!
I start seeds (some of them have been 5 years old as there are too many in a packet for me) in seed compost in modules in my greenhouse. I garden on heavy clay so I work the patch and add blood, fish and bone (unless my daughter's dog is visiting......) before I plant out May onwards depending on weather. They are 2-3 inches tall by then and I plant at the same level or a little lower. I cover with net as the pigeons love the leaves, water really well and then top up the water daily for a few days until they get their roots down. Then I leave them alone until they are ready to 'sweetfire' or bake.
So good luck! After many years I still have to buy carrots and start the year with a bought parsley plant!
Herb....what time of year do you start them in the greenhouse please??
TIA
Hi Suz3, it depends on the weather as I have an unheated greenhouse and have found that starting them in warmer conditions doesn't help as it is usually too cold to plant them out!
I generally start them off in March and then make a sowing every month until about now. It just needs to be above freezing of a night time, I am in Berks so around Easter is usually OK for me although the flooding last year demanded a rethink.........
Mine were slow this year, then lots of leaf. The roots are now expanding. Well, some are. The yellow cylindrical ones are useless, huge leaves, no root, most bolted too.
They are frost tolerant, if the frost is not too hard. Fleece should assure survival though I planted mine in early march with no protection.
I have grown beetroot for years but the last few seasons have had no success whatsoever so now I cheat.
I buy little modules of beetroots in trays of 6 in April and pot them up and keep them under cover with no heat. When they're bigger I plant those out. Meanwhile, I buy another set of plugs to pot up and sow some of my own in modules so I have a succession.
It has worked very well and I have had a fine crop of normal beets and my own home sown choggias are just the size to start eating. Meanwhile, the Swiss chard I sowed and then planted out at the same time has bolted but that's another story...........
LeifUK I totally agree about the cylindrical beets, golf balls for me! I have tried several (including Choggia) but always come back to Boltardy, best flavour and most consistant growth. I am about to harvest my third lot and they are about golf ball size.
obelixx, good on you! Great to know I am not the only cheat around......... root veg do seem to be having a problem this year with the flood/drought/flood conditions.
I bought seeds for red beetroot from Real Seeds, not Boltardy, but they did not bolt. They seem to have reliable varieties, unlike some companies.
I like Real Seeds too LeifUK but I prefer to buy at a shop if mail-order means I have to make a minimum purchase or pay p&p that comes to the same as the seeds! Although I do store up my 'wants' sometimes and save myself a trip, I have no transport so unless I can get one of my children to chauffeur its - thank goodness for that bus pass
Also like to collect my own seeds if I can (so mean I am!) but beet and parsnips have to be a packet. What make are the ones you got? I'd be interested to know what they taste like as that is near the top of my list. 1-can I grow them? 2-are they too picky about care? 3-do they taste good.
I also like experimenting with the free seeds which is how I came to try the choggia, not very impressed I'm afraid.