Step-by-Step Growing Guide
Beets are a dual-purpose crop — both the sweet, earthy root and the nutritious greens are edible. They prefer well-drained, fertile, deeply worked soil at pH 6.0–7.0; compact or stony soil causes forked, misshapen roots. Before sowing, incorporate compost at 5cm depth. Each beet 'seed' is actually a dried fruit containing 2–6 seeds — thin aggressively to prevent overcrowding. Sow seeds 1–2cm deep in rows 30cm apart; thin to 8–10cm between plants once seedlings have two true leaves. Soaking seed clusters overnight before sowing hastens germination. Water consistently — 2.5cm per week — as irregular watering causes the roots to crack. Feed with a balanced fertiliser (10-10-10) at sowing and a potassium-rich feed (0-10-20) as roots begin to develop. Beets tolerate frost to -2°C and actually sweeten after light frosts. Succession-sow every 3 weeks from early spring through late summer.