Your comments and tips

19 Mar 17, Michael Tierney (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My neighbours and I are having trouble growing beetroot with the same results. We both have tried seedlings and seed but same result. The beetroot grows very nice and bushy but the bulb does not want to grow to more than a large marble. Could you give us a tip to what we are doing wrong.

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20 Mar 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Sounds a bit like an oversupply of Nitrogen as this will result in large tops and small roots. Beetroot is probably best planted following a fruit crop such as beans, tomatoes or zucchinis. Ideally they would have followed a leaf crop such as cabbage, lettuce or silver beet. This succession reduces the amount of nitrogen in the soil and allows the roots to grow bigger with less top. As a consolation beetroot and silver beet are botanically the same plant so go ahead and eat the leaves! It is best to manure or compost your soil then follow with a leaf crop followed by a fruit crop then a root crop.

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22 Mar 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)

I fallow my ground during the summer. Add residue of plants and grass clippings to the soil during the summer. Turn it over 3 times (a month apart) add a bit lime and fertilizer and plant up in March (now). You need good rich soil through the top few inches as beetroot don't have long roots. I don't add anymore fertilizer while growing. Produce beet from golf ball to small rock melon size. I'm working on it but I think the important thing is to have an evenness of rich soil so that beet grow the same roughly. As stated too much nitrogen - all leaf and little beet.

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18 Mar 17, Iona Jelf (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I can grow good beetroot ( sown on the appropriate moon into soil well replenished with good compost, mulching the young plants with seaweed, and foliar feeding seaweed and fish several times) but it always takes double the time stated on the packet for them to bulb up well. I'm experimenting with sowing times, does anyone have experience with sowing as late as mid March? I was thinking i could microfleece them over winter and maybe the'd get away again in spring and give me some early beetroot....

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19 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I'm sub tropical Australia - Bundaberg Qld. I grown beetroot from March to Sept. Too hot to grow in summer - need a lot of watering. I plant March and May. Temps from May-Aug day 23 to 30 and night 3-6 to 11-15.

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26 Feb 17, Brenda (Australia - arid climate)

Hi John can please tell me what sort of soil and fertilizer should I use for growing Beetroot. Thanks Brenda.

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26 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Beetroot likes good, friable soil. it is a heavy feeder but too much nitrogen will cause large tops and small roots. Plenty of well rotted manure or compost added to the soil, say 1-2 buckets per square metre would be great, but use what you can. With root vegetaables consistent watering is essential. This keeps the beets growing and will avoid woodiness in the roots. If you have just grown lettuces or another leaf crop the soil should be ideal as the lef crop will have used up some of the nitrogen. If you do end up withh large tops, eat them. Beetroot and silver beet are botanically the same plant and the leaves are very nutritious. All the best.

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22 Feb 17, James (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a 90 cm strip facing north running along boundary fence.I am thinking of planting a row of garlic and a row of beetroot side by side. Is it alright to do so? Please help.

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11 May 17, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)

My beetroot became much better when I fed them some boron and watered them with weak worm tea every second day, I think they like their vitamins and minerals and good nutriion.

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23 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

If you plant your garlic at the back and the soil is in good condition there is no reason why you couldn't plant garlic long the back and 2 or 3 rows of beetroot. Keep the water up and you shouldn't have any problems. When planting garlic DON"T use imported garlic cloves (mostly Chinese) as garlic is susceptible to a disease that can be found in imported garlic. Imported garlic is sometimes labelled with its country of origin but is commonly sold in supermarkets. All the best.

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