Beetroot

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 2, Roots and Onions


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BOLTARDY

Beetroot Boltardy seeds can be sown earlier than most other varieties with little fear of bolting. The roots are deep red and of good quality and flavour, yielding well in most soils. Boltardy is a multigerm variety, so each seed which germinates successfully will produce several plants.
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BURPEES GOLDEN

Keeps its golden flesh when cooked, its uniquely sweet flavour is balanced by a traditional beetroot earthiness. The tender young leaves can be treated as greens.
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RED ACE

Red Ace is early to medium maturing hybrid red beetroot, suitable for all-year-round production. Red Ace's wide adaptability and excellent yield potential have made it an industry leader. Red Ace is renowned for its smooth, uniform, deep red, globe-shaped roots, high yields and consistent performance.
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WODAN

Wodan never gets wooden! The delicious, medium size roots never seem to become 'woody', and they are equally tasty whether picked young or left to mature.
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CHIOGGIA

This old Italian favourite shows alternate red and white rings when sliced - just the job for adding interest to salads. Its flavour is mild and most appealing. Roots become pink when cooked.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Beetroot prefer a fertile, well drained soil that has had a good preparation of garden compost or manure. Also rake in a general purpose fertiliser before sowing.

Indoor Sowing

Beetroot are usually sown direct outside but can be started in a cold greenhouse in cell trays if required.

Outdoor Sowing

Sow direct in growing location. Make successional sowings from mid-March to the end of July. Sow thinly at a depth of 25mm (1in) with rows 300mm (1ft) apart. Early spring sowings may need protecting with horticultural fleece.

Thinning

When seedlings have their first pair of proper leaves and are 25mm (1in) tall thin them out to 1 seedling every 100mm (4in).

Transplanting

Transplant indoor sown beetroot to their outdoor positions, after hardening off. Plant 100mm (4in) apart in rows 300mm (1ft) apart.

Care

Keep well watered escpecially in dry periods, when they have a tendency to bolt.

Harvest

Can be harvested when they are the size of a golf ball as baby beets, or left until they are tennis ball size.