Many hobby gardeners sow beetroot too densely and then prick out the plants later. This has several advantages. Below you will find out what these are and how best to proceed when pricking beetroot.
When and why should you prick beetroot plants?
Beetroot plants should be pricked out when they are about 1-2 cm tall. This promotes the growth of he althy plants and prevents competition for nutrients. When pricking out, carefully loosen the soil with a pricking stick and separate the plants at a distance of 7-10 cm.
Why prick beetroot?
It is not uncommon for gardeners to be surprised when only half of their seeds sprout in the spring. The failure could be due to the seeds, but hungry guests could also have had a hand in it. Therefore, experienced gardeners often decide to sow more densely and prick out later. You can also specifically promote the growth of he althy, strong plants.
When to prick beetroot?
Beetroot is pricked out when the plants are large enough to be able to be grasped, but not so large that they have already formed deep roots and become tangled with other plants. This is the case when the plant is around one to two centimeters tall, which should be the case around three to four weeks after sowing.
Tools for pricking
In order to get the plants out of the ground undamaged, it is advisable to loosen the substrate around the roots a little. There are special pricking sticks (€2.00 on Amazon) or pricking sticks that can be purchased from specialist retailers. Alternatively, you can also use a skewer or a toothpick.
How to prick beetroot?
Beetroot can only be sown directly into the bed from mid-May or it can be grown at home from the end of February. In both cases you can sow them very densely and prick them out later.
Pricking beetroot in the bed
If the beetroot is already growing in the bed, you can simply pluck out the excess plants and use them to make a delicious salad. Proceed as follows:
- Use a stick to loosen the soil around the roots of the plant to be pricked.
- Grasp the small, unwanted plant and carefully pull it out.
- Be careful not to damage surrounding plants.
- Now prick the beetroot so that a single beet remains every seven to ten centimeters.
Tip
The pricked plants can be used in salads or as an edible decoration for savory dishes.
Pricking beetroot in the pot
The pricked plants are not thrown away or eaten but rather replanted. You can find out how to proceed with the separation step by step here.
