How to grow them
Each knobbly seed is really a cluster, so several seedlings come up together: thin to one every 10cm. Sow a short row every month from April to July. A bolt-resistant variety can start under cloches in March.
Roots
Beetroot
One of the easiest of all, and you can eat the leaves as well.
- Buy as
- Seed
- Space
- 10cm between plants, 30cm between rows
- Position
- Sun or light shade
- Rotation
- Roots and onions
- Difficulty
- Easy
The year
Sow indoors
Sow outdoors
Harvest
When to pick
Pull when they are between golf ball and tennis ball size. Twist off the leaves rather than cutting them, so that they do not bleed.
What goes wrong
Problems, and what to do
Bolting
Running to seed after a cold spell. Do not sow too early, and keep watered.
Birds
Sparrows pull up seedlings. Net until established.
Good neighbours: Onions, Lettuces, Kale.