Beetroot
Sweet, earthy roots and tasty leaves too. Easy in most soils as long as plants are thinned and watered.
Things to look out for
- Thin early or roots stay small
- Dry spells make roots tough — water regularly
- Twist off tops at harvest to keep colour in the roots
What to sow
Sow direct in shallow lines, or a few seeds per module. Each “seed” is actually a cluster, so seedlings come up in little bunches.
UK window: Mar–Jul (direct or modules)
What to plant out
Thin clusters to one strong seedling per spot, ~10 cm apart. Beetroot doesn’t mind being moved when small if grown in modules.
UK window: Apr–Jul
How to care
Water during dry weather to keep roots tender. Hoe between rows to keep weeds down.
When to harvest
Lift when roots are golf‑ to tennis‑ball size. Twist off leaves rather than cutting to stop them “bleeding”.
UK window: Jun–Oct