Young beetroot plants require consistent moisture to thrive. Water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to moisten the soil. Once your plants are established, they become fairly drought resistant. Do not overwater; keep the soil moist but not sodden. Beetroot isn’t too fussy and doesn’t need regular feeding if your soil is in good condition.
Yellow beets used to be widely grown, but many have been forgotten. This is a really quick-growing yellow beet from 1828 that makes round, bright yellow roots. It's tender and very sweet!
If you're rooting for your beets from the beginning, you can expect baby beets to be ready in 35 days. Although they are very nice cooked and sliced, that's not all you can do. It's delicious grated raw into a salad too. You can even use the leaves like spinach.
Getting started
Make holes in the soil as deep as your fingernail. Add a couple of seeds to each hole and cover with soil. Place somewhere warm and bright like a windowsill and keep the soil damp, but not drenched.
After about 10 days when their first set of true leaves* start to grow, thin the seedlings to 5-10 cm apart. You can also try succession plant these every 2-3 weeks for a continuous supply.
*True leaves are the second set of leaves. The first set is known as the seedling leave
Growing on
These guys like full sun to partial shade. Keep the soil moist but not sodden. Depending on your weather this may require watering every week or two. Check the soil with your fingertip up to the first knuckle. Water once the top layer starts to dry out.
These golden globes can be ready for harvest in as quick as 35 days for baby beets, but can be left in the ground to mature for 50-60 days. Harvest when they're a nice size, up to 10 cm across. Don't let them get any bigger though as they become tough.
Munch time
When you can see 2-3 cm of beet poking out the soil, gently loosen and harvest with the help of a fork or similar. Beet greens can be harvested when around 3 inches tall for best flavour but keep some on so the roots can grow.
Recipes
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How-to videos
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