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Beetroot
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Fruit & veg
Someone put a picture of their tray of beetroot which they had sown when? They looked really healthy and this grower suggested sowing them indoors in trays rather than directly into the ground - can they give me any more information please? I sowed a couple of trays of beetroot when I read his thread, but they seem to be very slow to mature large enough to transplant into the soil. Thanks
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I wasn't the only Forum member that was impressed by the indoor tray method of starting off the seeds Verdun - so telling me that they will "sulk" is a bit disheartening to say the least. I will let you know how we get on with them - they aren't ready to be planted outside yet - too small I think.
I planted about 40 module grown beetroot today. They were sown in 5" deep modules, and kept in a coldframe. The advantages are that the coldframe is warmer and sheltered from wind so they grow much quicker, they are protected from sparrows and pigeons, they are easier to water, and you can use space more efficiently, as while one crop is in the ground, another later sowing is in modules. My soil sown leeks are 1mm wide by 5cm tall, module sown ones are 3mm wide by 15cm tall, both sown the same time.
5" deep modules? Can you show us a picture sometime LeifUK? I planted our beetroot in normal 1 - 2 inch modules - the type I grow all my flower seeds in - perhaps that is why they look so pathetic as they need depth to form correctly. Oh well gardening is trial and error - and I know all about errors!
Hi Guernsey Donkey2
I posted the pictures of my beetroot in module trays and they are coming along well
Apology for the delay as I was going to keep all updated however new site set up has led me on a bit of a chase and have only got some time to work on it
will post some new pictures soon as of my module planting which is going well
Happy gardening
See here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nutleys-Extra-Large-Trainer-45-Cell/dp/B00BQHKYK2
I've also used smaller modules trays, they work fine too, just plant out earlier. Yes, trial and error, I also know about errors. I think the difference between good and bad gardeners is that the former learn from their errors.
in the past I've sown mine thinly in old bits of gutter, that way you just slide them into a trench in the soil and reduce root disturbance, good if you want to get an early start on the season
Now I hadn't thought about using old bits of gutter before treehugger - so many ways to grow a plant and as Verdun says the proof is in the EATING - and no you haven't ruffled my feathers - advice was sought and given - if you don't ask you don't learn, is my motto.