The pink beetroot sprouts are pretty to look at, he althy and ideal for salads or as a side dish for hearty dishes. Unfortunately, the germination process is a bit lengthy. Find out below how to germinate beets and what you can use the sprouts for.
How do I grow beetroot seedlings myself?
To grow beetroot seedlings yourself, you need organic seeds, soil, a growing container and patience. Soak the seeds in water for 8-24 hours, plant them in moist soil and keep them consistently moist. The seedlings can be harvested after 2-3 weeks and used in a variety of ways.
Which seeds for beetroot sprouts?
Conventional seeds are often treated with chemical agents. Therefore, you should definitely buy organic seeds for your beetroot seedlings. There are also special germinating seeds, but these are rarely found for beetroot due to the long germination time.
Tip
You can also use pricked plants from your beetroot seeds as delicious sprouts.
Substrate for beetroot seedlings
Beetroot grows best in soil. Mold often forms in cress sieves or in special germination devices. An alternative to soil, however, are coconut mats, which are less ecological due to the long import routes, but are less prone to mold formation and do not leave any “dirt” on the roots.
Grouping beets
You need for germination:
- A growing container, e.g. a plastic bowl
- Earth
- Organic seeds
- some patience
How to make your own beetroot seedlings:
- Rinse the seeds well
- Soak the beetroot seeds in water for eight to 24 hours
- Fill your growing containers with soil
- Press the seeds about one to two centimeters deep into the soil and cover them with substrate.
- You can sow densely, as the plants are harvested shortly after germination and therefore hardly need any space.
- Now water your seeds carefully so that the soil is not washed away.
Tip
Make sure that the seeds are always moist throughout the entire germination phase! To do this, you should water your bowls up to twice a day.
Harvesting beetroot seedlings
Beetroot germinates very slowly. It may therefore happen that you only see the first green tips after 14 days. Depending on the variety, location and circumstances, the germination time varies between seven and fourteen days. So you can harvest your seedlings after two to three weeks.
Use beetroot seedlings
The beetroot sprouts can be used in a variety of ways. Here are a few recipe ideas:
- As a side dish to salads
- As a topping for Italian carpaccio
- As an edible decoration for meat or vegetarian dishes
- As a topping for soups and cold dishes
- As an ingredient for green smoothies
Tip
Beetroot sprouts are rich in vitamins and minerals and are therefore an ideal addition to a he althy diet.