Your comments and tips

16 Apr 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I read people's comments about manures being rich in N. Manures only have about 1-4% N. You would have to apply a lot of manure to have a high % N. Rather expensive if buying the manure. I apply a fert with about 15% N. The secret is how much to apply. My beetroot plants are quite leafy and produce good sized beets - from 1" to 5". Maybe people need to look more at the right time of the year to plant. There is a good planting guide on this web site. When people say they had a failure with a crop they should state what time of the year they planted.

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09 Apr 17, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)

Beetroot and Turnip have plenty of green top but bottom all like string??

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10 Apr 17, Ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Sounds a bit like too much nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen, from fresh manure, will give big tops and is ideal for lettuces and other leaf crops. Roots will be spindly as you mention. If this is the case you could use the small roots in a soup or salad and replant the spot with a leaf crop. plant turnips and beets after when some of the nitrogen has been used from the soil.

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05 Jul 17, Chris P (Australia - temperate climate)

If you do get a beetroot crop with plenty of foliage, keep in mind that the green leaves and red stems are edible too! The stems have a texture a bit like celery, and the leaves are very flavourful. Both leaves and stems are crunchy when fresh and hold a bit of crunch even when cooked. They will stay green and fresh for a week or more after being harvested if you leave them attached to the root. You can use beet greens in any dish where you'd use spinach or silverbeet, fresh or cooked.

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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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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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