A step-by-step beginners' guide to sowing and growing beetroot outside
'Choose a dry day when the soil is moist to rake it to a fine, crumbly texture (tilth) for sowing.'
* When to sow: February through to August.
* How to sow: Directly in the ground in drills (in early spring you can start seeds off under glass, two to a 9cm (3½in) pot).
* When to harvest: June through to October.
* How long before crops are mature: 12-16 weeks (can be ready in less than 10 weeks). You can leave it in the ground to mature in frost-free conditions.
Sowing and harvesting
You can sow beetroot from February to August and harvest from June to October. It can take less than 10 weeks for a crop to mature. For easy sowing, buy seeds that are attached at intervals to a biodegradable tape (image below), which can simply be laid in the drill.
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| Biodegradable tape makes sowing easy
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If you are sowing beetroot direct into the ground in early spring, make sure the soil is warm enough for seeds to germinate (wait for the first weed seeds to sprout if you are unsure). Choose a dry day when the soil is moist to rake it to a fine, crumbly texture (tilth) for sowing.
Simple steps to sowing outdoors
1 For a straight row, pull a string line tight across the seed bed and make a 'V'-shaped drill by dragging the corner of a hoe along the string. Make the drill about 2.5cm (1in) deep for beetroot seeds (the depth varies for different crops).
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| Use string for a straight row
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2 Pour seeds into the palm of your hand and sow them one at a time at 5cm (2in) intervals along the row. Spacings vary for different seeds according to their size; tiny seeds should be sown as thinly and evenly as possible.
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| Sow seed at intervals
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3 As soon as sowing is complete, use the back of a rake to push the soil gently over the drill. Mark the row clearly with a plant label so that you know what you have sown and where, and don't disturb germinating seeds.
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| Push soil over the drill with a rake
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4 Keep rows free of weeds. Remove excess seedlings by pulling them out with their roots or pinching the off at soil level, when they are large enough to handle. This ensures that the remaining plants have enough space to grow.
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| Remove excess seedlings for more growing space
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*Simple steps are extracted from
Vegetables in a Small Garden, published by
Dorling Kindersley and the RHS, priced £6.99.
* See tips on beetroot varieties and cooking uses.
denotes Subscriber-only content | Thursday 20 November 2008 | Help | Glossary 
