How to grow beetroot from seeds in containers.

Beetroots are cool-weather crops and there are many varieties of beetroots. The best variety of beetroot to sow is the variety that is bolt-resistant. Both the leaves as well as the roots of this vegetable are edible. You can grow beetroot from seeds.

Growing conditions for Beetroot

Beetroots need fertile well drained soil and lots of sunlight to grow well and give big bulbs. Beets prefer alkaline soil and can tolerate frost. The soil ph should be between 6 to 7. The optimum temperature for growing beets is between 18°C to 30°C( 64°F to 86°F). The best season to grow beetroots is between March to July.

Grow beetroot from seeds

You will need a container that is at least 15 inches deep and wide. Take a container and fill it with fertile soil. Sow beetroot seeds a half inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Germination takes place within 5 to 8 days. Place the container in a location that gets 4 to 5 hours of sunlight every day. Fertilize your plants once in 3 weeks. Pull out the weeds that grow near beets. Once your beets have started to give some leaves, make sure to thin the seedlings as each seed contains multiple embryos. Simply pull out the smaller bulbs. This can give lots of space for other bulbs to grow bigger. You can also leave the seedlings if you want small beets. Beetroots can be harvested within 55 to 70 days. Use a fork to loosen the soil and pick up the bulbs when they have grown big enough.

Pests and Diseases

Your beets can get attacked by pests like aphids, leafminers, beetles, cutworms and nematodes.

You can use neem oil or insecticidal soap to get rid of these pests.