Experienced gardeners say that growing beetroot is always successful. But even this undemanding root vegetable has certain requirements when growing. What do you have to pay attention to so that nothing goes wrong and a good harvest is guaranteed?
How to grow beetroot correctly?
Beetroot requires a sunny to partially shaded location and nutrient-rich, deep soil. Sowing takes place from March to June, ideally at 10 cm spacings and 2-3 cm depth. Harvest time is after 16-20 weeks between July and November. Good plant neighbors are onions, beans, dill, legumes, zucchini, salads and cabbage plants.
What location requirements does beetroot have?
The beetroot is considered extremely frugal. To produce crisp roots, it needs a sunny to semi-shady location. The soil at their roots should be deep, heavy, moderately humus-rich, permeable and nutrient-rich.
Which plant neighbors are suitable and which are not?
Competitors and enemies of beetroot include tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, chard, chives and parsley. Do not plant these plants in their immediate vicinity! On the other hand, the following are suitable as plant neighbors:
- Onions
- Beans
- Dill
- Pulses
- Zucchini
- Salads
- Cabbage family
When and how is sowing done?
The seeds can be sown outdoors between March and April. However, at this time they should still be protected with fleece (€6.00 on Amazon). The main growing season for beetroot is in June, as their season usually begins in October.
The hard seeds can be soaked in water for a few hours before sowing so that they germinate more quickly. Finally they are planted 2 to 3 cm deep in the soil outdoors.
What distance should be kept between the plants?
A distance of 10 cm should be maintained between individual plants. When the plants are around 7 cm tall, they can be separated if necessary. A distance of 25 cm is sufficient between the rows.
When can the first beets be harvested?
The harvest begins 16 to 20 weeks after sowing. Depending on when the beetroot was sown, it can be harvested from July until October/November.
Last: Which varieties have proven successful?
Before you pick up the garden tools and prepare the bed, it is advisable to choose a beetroot that has proven itself in cultivation. Recommended varieties are, for example:
- ‘Red ball’ (spherical)
- ‘Forono’ (cylindrical)
- ‘Albina Veredura’ (white)
- ‘Tonda di Chioggia’ (red-white)
- ‘Burpee Golden’ (orange-yellow)
Tips & Tricks
If you want to harvest beetroot over a longer period of time, you should sow the seeds again every 2 to 3 weeks.