Growing Beetroot, also Beets

Beta vulgaris : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P P P P P P P P P P P P

(Best months for growing Beetroot in New Zealand - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, Silverbeet (Swiss Chard), Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill, Peas. Strawberries
  • Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Spinach

Your comments and tips

24 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
If it is a rabbit or rats you would see soil disturbance around the plants. It could be grubs such as cutworms in the soil. Mix up a Bt spray such as Yates 'Natures Way' and water it along both sides of your row around the beets. This is a sfe insecticide and only affects chewing pests. Birds could eaat the grubs after with no effect. Trust this helps.
17 Dec 16, kansiime bosco (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Thanks for the teaching above, QN, which disease attack beetroot and how can the problem be prevented Does beetroot need a lot of water while in the garden? * can we plant the seeds direct or they should go thru the nursery bed *at what age should be transplanted??
24 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Beetroot is relatively disease free. Beetroot is much better sown direct into the ground than transplanted from a seed bed. Try and space the seeds out or buy seeds prespaced on seed tapes. It germinates fairly esily and needs consistent water to get get good sized beets that are not tough and stringy. If you have sown the seed direct you can always use thinings as 'baby' beets. Trust this helps.
26 Nov 16, helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Beetroot has a whitish colour inside when cut in half but is planted with spinach
27 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Beetroot and Silver Beet are botanically the same plant - Beta vulgaris. One has been developed to have edible roots and the other to have edible leaves. Beetroot leaves are also edible. There are a number of reasons your query could have arisen. (1) If you had silver beet and beetroot growing in the garden and saved some seed, they may have cross-pollinated. (2) The seed may have come from the supplier like that. (3) There are many varieties and colours of beetroot; red, orange, yellow, white, and red and white rings. Was it an 'all red' variety that you planted. Let them keep growing, they will still taste the same. Trust this helps.
01 Nov 16, chris compaan (Australia - tropical climate)
moving to magnetic island always drank my beet root juice grown my own and made my own juice best possible times in tropical climate of magnetic island queensland do i need some sort of climate controlled room enviroment
28 Oct 16, Yannick (Australia - temperate climate)
I have transplanted some beetroot seedlings and they are starting to die? I have watered them regurlary. What should i I do?
18 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
All beets (root ones) are better if sown direct into the ground. They germinate fairly readily.
22 Sep 16, Eileen Looker (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted beetroot tops which took a long time to grow but left them in the pot as the leaves looked quite decorative. I pulled one out to see if there was fruit on it but found that it had not ground round but in a tuber shape, the whole pot was full of beetroot tubers. I cooked it up thinking it would be woody but it lovely and tender and full of flavour. Is that normal for beetroot.
29 Aug 16, Evans Ruwa (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi. I am from kenya, coast region. Can beetroot grow well here? Is there ready market for beetroot?
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