Time to sow beetroot
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Beetroot are one of the few crops that have no natural pests and are relatively trouble free with the exception of maybe a few slug nibbles.
It’s into the greenhouse for the next crop to join the swelling band of sowings that are housed in there already. This time it is ‘Boltardy’ beetroot that have to be found a place to start their quest to give me those early dark red globes that are delicious in salads or as a side dish with a cooked meal.
Use 5cm (2in) plastic pots and fill them with multi-purpose compost. Beetroot can withstand a little root disturbance so there is no need to use the peat pots that you need to use for parsnips. The large, knobbly beetroot seeds are then sown two per pot. The seeds usually contain more than one seed in that husk exterior. Lightly cover the seeds with about half an inch of the same compost and water lightly using a spray filled with tepid water. These are then put on the greenhouse staging to germinate. No heat is especially required to germinate these tough seeds and they should put in an appearance in 10-14 days.
Sow these seeds now for an early crop when transplanted under cloches and they’ll be harvested by mid May. You can use the same method and sow every two weeks for a continual succession of this crop throughout the year. These tough vegetables will also stand the early frosts and the harvests can continue right into the winter months.
Beetroot are one of the few crops that have no natural pests and are relatively trouble free with the exception of maybe a few slug nibbles.
Sowing beetroot seeds step-by-step
Step 1 Sow two of the large, knobbly seeds per 2in pot of multi-purpose compost
Step 2 Cover with a light layer of sieved compost
Step 3 Spray with tepid water to keep the compost moist
Next steps
10-14 days – Your beetroot seeds will germinate
2 weeks – Sow another batch of 20 pots. Repeat this every 2 weeks throughout spring and summer
Late March – Transplant outdoors onto the plot
Mid May – Start to harvest first batch
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