Beetroot Question.

[Julian]

I would like advice on beetroot.I have today folked out of the ground a few beetroots but these have not produce the size i had hoped for.I know beetroot should be golf ball size but the beetroot i pulled out was still extremely tiny.The plants look healthy but if these are not producing the beetroot,shall i havest the whole amount in the morning and start again or should i try and thin the plants out in the hope that the stems might become stronger?

[zazen999]

Hi

Firstly welcome to the vine.

I would leave them in a while longer; how long have they been in the ground? How close are they together - i usually leave them in situ and if any are together they push themselves apart, and I harvest one and leave the other to it.

[Kristen]

Sounds like they aren;t ready yet. If they are closer than about 6" apart I would thin them. Water well once a week to keep them growing strongly (but not so much that they only produce leaf!)

[Julian]

Thankyou very much for your quick reply.I started to sow the seeds in April.
I sowed the seeds straight from a packet into my vegetable plot.The plants are bunched together quite closely and i have been watering the plants daily not once a week as last post suggested.Some of the leaves on the plant have slightly turned brown but not the whole bunch and sometimes the plants seam to wilt but after a water seam to be fine.I have heard about thining the beetroot out to make the plants stronger but was worried about doing this as not to cause a lot of stress to the plants.

[Kristen]

"as not to cause a lot of stress to the plants"

Take care not to disturb the ones you leave behind, and you'll be fine. Sounds like you've just got too many, and they need thinning so that they have room to grow.

You could thin a bit (e.g. to, say, 3" apart) and then thin again once they are getting crowded - that way you will be able to use the next lot of thinnings as they will have a bit of "beet" on them, and then let the remainder fatten up some more.

[terrier]

If you have a lot of leaf on the thinnings, don't waste it, it's a very tasty leaf veg once cooked.

[Julian]

If you have a lot of leaf on the thinnings, don't waste it, it's a very tasty leaf veg once cooked.

Thankyou everyone,
I did hear the leaves can be used,looks like the wildlife finds them tasty as well Will start on the thinning..If i have to wait longer will it be useful to take some of the leaves off or just leave the leaves on

[Tam]

Leave the leaves on, they help the plant to grow.

[Julian]

Leave the leaves on, they help the plant to grow.

Thankyou Tam

[terrier]

OH goes round my beet patch taking one or two leaves from each large plant to cook and it doesn't seem to bother the root. Don't take too much though.

[Nicos]

You can leave beetroot in until after the first frosts!...no hurry then!
I'd water them if I were you.
We eat a few leaves in a salad....lovely

...contrary to common belief ...size DOESN'T matter small and sweet....yum

Oh and welcome to the Vine!

[Julian]

Thanks Guys,
My Oh cooked 2 beetroots and wow,never tasted anything so good.I decided to water the beetroot once a week so the leaves can get a lovely green colour again as i said i had over water the beetroot.