{"id":2426,"date":"2019-06-10T03:19:27","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T03:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2426"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:20:38","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:20:38","slug":"15-easy-steps-for-growing-beets-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/15-easy-steps-for-growing-beets-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Easy Steps for Growing Beets at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you love beets, you may want to start growing them yourself. Don\u2019t be intimidated by the thought of growing your own vegetables. Whether you are an expert gardener or just starting, you can grow beets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since they are root vegetables, they grow in the ground and have more protection for the elements than some other plants. Still, you need to put in some time and effort if you want a successful garden and healthy plants. Once you grow your beets and harvest them, you will want to try other plants as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beets are fairly easy to grow and harvest and they are healthy. You can pickle them, bake them, roast them and eat them any way you desire. They are full of nutrients and vitamins and even make a great snack. You just can\u2019t get much better than a big juicy beet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight easy steps for growing your own beats at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose a Container<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beets can be grown in a variety of different situations. Many people prefer to grow them in the ground, but they also do well in containers. You can plant them in raised gardens and planters, and even large pots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are advantages to all options but most people prefer container plants because they are easy to move around so you can ensure that the plants are getting the right amount of sun and shade. If you are planning on planting a large about of beets, it may be best to plant them in a garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how or where you choose to plant them, you will need to provide them with basic care if you want them to be successful. As with most things, the more effort you put into your beets, the better they will be when it comes time to eat them or use them in your favorite recipes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Prepare The Soil<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your soil is prepared and full of nutrients before you plant the seeds or starter plants in it, they will have a great start right from the beginning. You can prepare the soil by choosing a potting soil that is designed for vegetables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic is always best. You can also start adding nutrients to the soil before you add the plants. Add some compost and give it time to break down before you plant your beets. You should also check the PH levels of the soil before planting the beets. You will need to check the soil regularly after you have planted the beets as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on when you are planning on planting the beats, you should also till your soil. If you are planting in the late fall, it\u2019s better to leave the soil rough so the winter can break it down. This will also protect the plants from frost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Sow The Seeds<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes time to sow the seeds, you need to think about how you will space them and how they will grow. If you are growing the beets in containers, you will not be able to grow as many as if you were growing them in a bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beets will be more easily crowded in a container and the roots won\u2019t have as much room to grow. If you are growing the beets from seeds, you will need to plant them an inch deep in the ground and space them four to six inches apart. This will ensure the plants have plenty of room to spread out as they grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are doing succession planting, you should sew the new plants every 14 days for the best results. If your plants do end up being too close together, you may need to remove some of them to ensure the others can grow properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Water Often<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beets need a lot of water, especially as seeds and starter plants. In fact, you will need to water them thoroughly every day until you notice the leaves begin to sprout. The soil should be completely moist at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the seeds start to sprout leaves, you can slack off on the watering as they will absorb water from the soil. You do need to make sure that once the leaves sprout that you don\u2019t overwater them. If the plants grow more leaves than roots, they can bolt, which means they flower but don\u2019t produce any actual beets. Nobody wants to put a lot of time and hard work into gardening just to have it not produce anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your beets sprout, you should water them every 10 to 14 days as long as you have normal rainfall. If the season is dry, you may need to water them more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Cut The Weak Plants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter how good of a gardener you are, you have to accept that all of your plants won\u2019t grow well or be healthy. There will be some that are weaker than others and you will need to cut those plants out of the bed, garden, or container so the others can grow strong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It shouldn\u2019t be hard to tell which plans are the weaker ones and need to be removed. They will be smaller than the others and may also be wilted, burnt, discolored, or simply not growing properly. You can cut them down to the ground to see if they can regrow properly or completely remove them from the garden so your other plants have more room to grow and can take advantage of the nutrients available in the soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should thin out the plants twice; once when they first sprout and again when they get slightly taller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Add Nutrients<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once your plants start growing, you should continue to add nutrients to the soil. Plants use nutrients as food and if they don\u2019t have enough food, they won\u2019t grow right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beets are hungry plants and they need a lot of nutrients to grow properly. That means you will need to fertilize the plants and add compost to them more often than other plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should add the compost and fertilizer in thin layers to ensure it doesn\u2019t burn the plants and it\u2019s just enough. Be aware that adding too much nitrogen to the soil can cause the plant to grow more leaves and flowers and no roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means you won\u2019t have any beets. If you notice that this is happening, you should reduce the fertilizer and compost. The plants can recover from too much nitrogen and grow properly. You can also use fertilizer that contains low nitrogen to reduce the risk of damaging the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Protect The Plants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you can tell that your beets are growing and doing well, you need to protect them. Plants are fragile and just because they look good one day doesn\u2019t mean they will look that good the next day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of things that can damage beets and if you don\u2019t take certain precautions, your plants won\u2019t make it until harvest time. Watch for signs of pests and if necessary, use an organic pest spray to help keep the pests away. You also need to make sure the sun is not too strong for your plants. If you notice they are starting to burn, you should move them if possible of shade them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also need to protect them from the wind and too much rain. If your garden is in an area where there are lots of wildlife such as moles or birds, you will need to find a way to protect your plants from these animals as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Harvest At The Right Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since beets grow underground, it can be hard to know when it\u2019s the right time to harvest them. One way you can tell it\u2019s time is to look at the root at the bottom of the plant. As the plant grows, you will notice the root more easily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will give you an idea of how big the beet is underground. You want to wait until the beet is about the size of a small orange before harvesting it. When it\u2019s time to harvest the beet, grab on top of the root and gently pull up on the plant. You may also use a small shovel to help dig up the beet gently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most beets are ready within about 9 weeks of planting. You may need to harvest early or late, depending on the temperatures and weather conditions where you live. You should check your plants often because you don\u2019t want to harvest them before they are ready or wait too long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Fall and Spring Harvesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you harvest your beets depends on when you plant the seeds. It’s best to plant beet seeds in your garden around eight to ten weeks before the first frosts land on the ground. This planting strategy allows you to harvest the beets in time for the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gardeners should note that beets planted in the fall develop darker and more vibrant colors than those beets planted in the springtime. Plants, herbs, fruits, and flowers get their colors from the polyphenol compounds found in the roots, stems, and flowers. Therefore, beets planted in the fall, yield a higher nutritional value than those planted in the spring or summertime. Fall beets also have higher sugar content than those planted in later seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as the soil dries out after the wintertime, in the months of March to mid-May, you can start preparing it for planting. However, if the weather stays cold and wet into the change of season, then it’s best to wait till April for planting.
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10. Killing Beet-Leaf Miners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pests are a problem for beet growers. The beet-leaf miner, (Pegomya hyoscyamine,) presents a severe threat to the health of your crop. This pest tunnels into the leaves on the surface, causing bumps to occur on the outside of the leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best method for checking your crop against these pests is the “two-finger” practice. Once a week, run the beet leaves between two of your fingers and note if you find any bumps in the leaves. If you do discover the presence of leaf-miners, then you can twist off the infected blade, and discard it in the trash where the beetle does not have the chance to escape. It’s best if you squish the beetle to prevent it from finding its way back to your crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to avoid infestation of your beet crop with leaf-miners is to add row covers to your beets before the start of May \u2013 the busiest time of the year for insect growth.
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11. The Best Beet Varieties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It may surprise you to learn that there are several varieties of beets. Each has a unique look and growth characteristics that distinguish the species from others. Consider the following types of beets below when planting your crop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detroit Dark Red \u2013 Known for sweet roots and greens, this beet matures in 60 to 65-days, making it one of the longer-growth cycle beets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Ace \u2013 This beet is excellent for storage, producing tender greens ideal for inclusion in salads. This species is resistant to “zoning” \u2013 where the beet develops white and red rings due to heat stress. This beet matures in 50 to 60-days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kestrel \u2013 This baby beet is dark-red and sweet, and it is also resistant to disease, bolting, and heat, making it ideal for beginner growers. This beet matures in 50 to 55-days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bulls Blood \u2013 This beet is resistant to cold, growing long, dark-purple leaves that are ideal in salads. This variety is the tastiest beet you can grow, and it matures in 55 to 60-days.
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12. Humidity and Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The climate plays a significant role in beet production. If you plant your beets in the wrong environment, or at the wrong time of the year, you can expect that your crop will not work out well for you. Beets prefer colder climates, making the northern states more suitable for growing this root vegetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, beets are not as cold-resistant as other vegetables, such as broccoli, and your timing needs to be spot-on if you want a successful crop at the end of spring. Should you decide to plant your beets in the springtime, it’s vital that you wait until the ground thaws and drains before planting. It’s best to have a soil temperature of 50-degrees, which is optimal for planting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growers can plant successive crops as long as the air temperature does not get above 75F. Planting in the fall is suggested after the nighttime temperature starts to cool off as winter approaches.
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13. Seed Germination Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The shells of beet seeds are notoriously hard, and they may be challenging to germinate, especially in the ground. We recommend that you soak your seeds overnight to speed up germination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When sprouting, you can place the soaked seeds in the prepared beds immediately. However, for best results, we recommend you leave the seeds in the water until the root starts to show, then plant the seeds in the bed, with the base of the root pointing downwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another excellent gardening tip for growing beets is to plant a row of fast-growing radishes in between the beets. The radishes grow much faster than the beets, and you’ll be able to harvest them long before the beets. As the radishes grow, the roots spread into the flowerbed, loosening the soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top your beet seeds with peat moss or vermiculite after planting to trap moisture and keep the seedling cool and protected from direct sunlight in the early stages of growth.
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14. Topping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have to get rid of beet leaves due to leaf-miner infestation, or you want to trim the beets before harvest \u2013 it’s vital that you don’t cut the leaves. Cutting the foliage results in the beets “bleeding.” As a result of the bleeding process, the beet tends to lose its flavor and color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of cutting away the leaves, twist them off about 2-inches from the start of the stem above the crown of the beet. Save your beet tops for salads, and it may surprise you at how much flavor comes from the greens. The leaves of the beet are similar to spinach in their consistency, and they contain plenty of nutrients that make them a valued addition to any salad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After harvesting your beets, you can leave a few roots in the ground over-winter, and dig them up next season. However over-wintering beets tens to give them a woody texture and taste.
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15. Storage Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beets are an ideal vegetable to add to your root cellar. Under the right conditions, you can store your beets for up to four months after harvest. To get the most extended shelf-life out of your beets, we advise that you store them in your cellar at a cold temperature, but not at the freezing point. Freezing the beets turns them woody and diminishes the flavor in this root vegetable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s vital that the humidity in your root cellar stays above 98-percent to ensure the longevity of your beets. Lower levels of humidity dry out the beet, rendering it tasteless and chewy. If you want your beets to last longer, then consider processing and preserving them. Pickling your beets will dramatically improve their shelf-life, with some preparations lasting up to a year if stored in the fridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also store your beets in layers of sand in a wooden box. Store in a dry environment, and you’ll preserve the flavor and texture of your beets.
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