Lexi Webster
Beetroot is a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in many dishes, from salads to soups. It is also a relatively easy vegetable to grow in Australia, where it thrives in the cooler months of the year. Beetroot can be grown in a variety of soils, but soil preparation is important. The soil should be loosened with a garden fork and mixed with compost, manure, and fertiliser. Seeds should be soaked overnight before planting and sown about 1cm deep and 5-10cm apart. Beetroot seedlings should be thinned out to reduce overcrowding and encourage healthy root development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Season | Spring to Autumn |
| Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade |
| Soil | Medium-rich, well-drained, loosened with a garden fork, mixed with compost and manure |
| Soil Preparation | Soil preparation is a must. Mix in some compost, manure, and boron |
| Seed Planting | Plant seeds 10mm deep and 50mm apart |
| Seed Spacing | Space rows about 30cm apart and plant seeds 5-10cm apart |
| Seed Depth | 1.5cm deep |
| Seed Thinning | Thin seedlings to 15cm apart when they are about 3-5cm high |
| Watering | Regularly, but not too much |
| Fertiliser | Feed at least once a fortnight with liquid plant food |
| Harvesting | Harvest when 30-50mm wide (baby beets) |
| Pests | Slugs, snails, whiteflies, and caterpillars |
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What You'll Learn
Beetroot soil preparation
Beetroot is a versatile vegetable that can be grown in Australia all year round, but it prefers the cooler months and grows best in cool to warm conditions. Soil preparation is a must when growing beetroot. The soil should be medium-rich, well-drained, and loosened with a garden fork. You can add some compost and manure with a bit of blood and bone to the soil, as well as boron, which is generally lacking in Australian soils. Mound the soil to improve drainage if necessary.
Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter by mixing through a soil improver and controlled-release fertiliser. Beetroot will grow in any type of soil, even heavy clay, but adding compost and organic fertiliser will improve the soil's structure and provide additional nutrients for the plants.
When planting beetroot seeds, space the rows about 30 centimetres apart and plant each seed 1 to 1.5 centimetres deep and 5 to 10 centimetres away from other seeds. Beetroot seeds have a hard outer coating, so it is recommended to soak them in water overnight before planting to encourage germination. Thin the seedlings to 15 centimetres apart when they are about 3 to 5 centimetres high to prevent overcrowding and poor root development.
Water your beetroot plants regularly to keep the soil moist but not wet. Regular deep watering will prevent the beetroot from becoming woody. Apply a liquid fertiliser monthly that is low in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium to promote healthy growth and bulbous development.
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How to sow beetroot seeds
Beetroot seeds have a hard outer coating, so it is recommended to soak them in water overnight before planting to soften them and encourage germination.
When sowing beetroot seeds, choose a spot in your garden with full sun to partial shade. Beetroot will tolerate as little as 4 hours of direct sunlight per day and can grow in the dappled shade beneath taller crops, so they are great to inter-plant. Space rows about 30 centimetres apart and plant seeds every 5-10 centimetres about 1-1.5 centimetres deep. If growing in pots, use a container at least 20 centimetres wide and 30-50 centimetres high.
Once the seedlings are 3-5 centimetres tall, thin them out to the strongest ones, leaving 15 centimetres between each seedling to reduce overcrowding and poor root development. Use scissors or tweezers when thinning plants so that other plants' roots aren't damaged. You can replant any removed seedlings in another place in your garden.
Water your seedlings regularly and keep the soil moist but not wet. Regular deep watering will stop the beetroot from becoming woody.
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Protecting beetroot from pests
Beetroot is susceptible to a variety of pests, but there are several ways to protect your crop. Here are some tips to keep your beetroot plants safe:
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails can cause significant damage to beetroot leaves. To protect your plants, set beer traps by placing saucers filled with beer among your plants, or use Defender Snail & Slug Pellets.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are chewing pests that love beetroot leaves. If you find caterpillars on your plants, remove them by hand or spray them with EarthCare Natural Pyrethrum insect spray or Defender™ Pyrethrum Insect Spray.
Leafhoppers
Leafhoppers are tiny insects that can transmit viruses to beetroot plants. To control leafhoppers, spray your plants with a suitable insecticide.
Aphids
Aphids, also known as green peach aphids or black bean aphids, transmit viruses that can cause leaf yellowing and spotting. To prevent aphid infestations, grow resistant beetroot varieties and keep the fields free from the previous season's crop during the off-season.
Leafminers
Leafminers are the larvae of flies that create winding, maze-like tunnels in beetroot leaves. If you find leafminers, crush the tunnel pathways with your fingers to kill them, or remove the damaged leaves. To prevent leafminers from reaching your plants, use floating row covers when you first plant your seeds or seedlings, and keep them in place until harvest.
Maggots
Maggots chew tunnels into the surface of beetroots, damaging the root hairs. Above ground, infested plants will look stunted, wilted, and weak, with yellow or mottled leaves. To catch maggots, place yellow sticky traps at ground level in your garden. To prevent infestations, wait to transplant beets into the garden until late May, or use floating row covers in the fall and spring to stop adult flies from laying eggs.
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Beetroot watering and fertilising
Beetroot plants require regular and deep watering to prevent the roots from becoming woody. Keep the soil moist but not wet. Watering the plants regularly will also help stimulate strong root development and healthy growth.
When it comes to fertilising, beetroot plants can benefit from a liquid fertiliser applied monthly. Choose a fertiliser that is low in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium, which promotes bulbous development. You can also use a complete organic fertiliser to enrich the soil. Before planting, mix in some compost and manure with a bit of blood and bone. Ensure you also add some boron, which is generally lacking in Australian soils.
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Harvesting beetroot
Beetroot is at its sweetest when it is 3-6cm across, and these are often called "baby beets". You can start harvesting a few outer beetroot leaves from around 4-6 weeks after planting. Ensure you only remove a few outer leaves from each plant, so it continues to grow. The roots can be harvested when they are 30-50mm wide, which takes around 2-3 months.
To harvest the beetroots, loosen the soil around the beetroot and gently yank the foliage until it dislodges. Space rows about 30cm apart and plant seeds every 10cm at about 1-1.5cm deep. Thin out to about one plant every 20-30cm. You can eat your thinnings—just steam them.
If you want a continuous harvest, successive sowing is recommended. Beetroots can be grown year-round but prefer to grow in the cooler months in Australia. Spring to autumn are ideal, but they can be grown from spring through to autumn.
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Frequently asked questions
Beetroot can be grown year-round but prefers to grow in the cooler months of spring to autumn. Avoid growing beetroot during the height of the wet season or the peak of summer.
Beetroot seeds have a hard outer coating, so it is recommended to soak them in water overnight before planting. Whether you're planting in pots or the garden, soil preparation is a must. Loosen the soil with a garden fork and mix in some compost, manure, and fertiliser. Mound the soil to improve drainage if necessary.
Beetroot is at its sweetest when the roots are 30-50mm wide, often referred to as "baby beets". It takes around 2-3 months for them to reach this size. You can start harvesting the leaves from around 4-6 weeks after planting.
