Growing Beetroot

Beetroot is a champion vegetable! Beetroot is rich in folic acid and a fantastic source of fibre manganese and potassium. Even the greens of the plant are a great source of calcium, iron and vitamins A and C - so no waste!

This low maintenance grower is the ideal staple vegetable for your garden, requiring only 2 months until harvest and grows best alongside other staples such as onions, silverbeet, lettuce and cabbage. See our full guide to companion planting with FREE download here.

Beetroot likes the soil PH to be between 6.5 to 7.5 and positioned in full sun with well drained soil. Check out our handy guide to PH meters and readers here.

How to choose the best variety for you

Kestral Hybrid Beetroot
Kestral is fast growing, tender and sweet tasting.

Detroit Dark Red Beetroot
Detroit is a heavy cropper producing globe shaped beets of good quality.

Cylindra Beetroot
A long, slim cylindrical beetroot which is an ideal variety for slicing.

Bulls Blood Beetroot
Besides using the beets, the scrumptious leaves could be used as a garnish or in salads

Bonny Baby F.1. Hybrid Beetroot
As smooth and round as beet come. Tender dark red/purple interiors.

How to plant your Beetroot
Beetroot seeds are best sown in Spring across all temperature zones and they thrive in gardens as they have plenty of space to grow. Water beetroot regularly, but be sure not to overwater as this can produce extra leaf growth and small roots. Mulch with 50mm of well-rotted manure or worm castings and liquid to prevent the soil from drying out, and keep seedlings moist if transplanting.

How To Sow: Choose a sheltered, well drained site in full sun. Sow these seeds in trays for subsequent transplanting or after frosts, sow direct where to grow. Sow seeds 2cm apart in rows 45cm apart and to a depth 2cm.

Seedling Care: Keep seedbeds or trays evenly moist during the germination period of 7-14 days. Apply McGregor's VegeMax 2 weeks after germination for healthier plants and maximum crop. Protect your herb garden from snails and slugs with McGregor's Snail and Slug bait and from white butterfly with McGregor's Derris Dust.

Hints and Tips: Begin lifting alternate plants when golf ball size. This gives the remainder of the plants space to develop. Beetroot leaves are rich in oxalic acid is a strong dicarboxylic acid occurring in many plants and vegetables such as Spinach and Rhubarb, but this can give off a bitter taste so try stick to younger leaves if you are sensitive to bitter.