Your comments and tips

11 May 14, Rana (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

How is it that some of us can't grow beets? I( and some of my gardening friends) follow all the advice and all I get is luscious leaves and thin dry beet. only about 0.01% grow to something less than a golf ball size and that takes much longest that the 7- 10 weeks mentioned.

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21 Jul 15, Heidi (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I couldn't grow it for years, though I kept trying because sometimes it seemed like I was achieving some improvement. Then I went through a period of getting the foodscraps from a shop and feeding them to the chickens, though most ended up being dug under the soil. The soil was teeming with worms all the time. Within a year, I was growing good beetroot. I think the amount of organic matter made the difference. Now I'm not getting the foodscraps anymore, and my beetroot is average. I'd suggest digging your food scraps under the soil and letting it compost there rather than in a pile or bin, and see if that helps. I'd love to hear whether it does.

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12 May 14, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)

I have the same problem. I have persevered over the years and have only been able to grow a half decent crop a couple of times. I don't over feed them as I think that would make for more leafy growth. I do mix compost in my garden soil. My daughter has success with her beetroot and she uses virtually the same soil mixture and only lives around the corner so it's not different climates

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09 May 14, Natalie Tornatore (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have planted baby beets 8 weeks ago and every time I try to see if they are ready there is still no bulb underneath. They are in a raised bed with good soil. What is going on as the label said harvest 6 -8 weeks. Mine are just on 8 weeks and good leaves but no beets.

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24 Sep 14, Sandy (Australia - temperate climate)

Get a ph tester Beetroots like 6-6.8. Use the complete tester it is more accurate. If the soil is too acid ie more than 6.8 add sulphur if it is alkaline ie below 6 add garden lime. Maintain 6-6.8 during whole season, do this for all plants. Google all vegetables and get a ph reading and maintain it. Works for me.

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09 Jul 14, Peter Wheldon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

It is possible that your soil is too nitrogen rich. That would explain the good leaf growth. Beets are 'light feeders' and go well in rotation after a heavy feeder like a brassica ie. broccoli, kale or cabbage. Something that uses up nitrogen in the soil.

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07 Apr 14, ken (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

When seedlings appear do I replant up to the leaves or leave the stalks out of the ground

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22 Mar 14, jacque (Australia - temperate climate)

can you grow beetroot in pots?

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15 Jun 14, Dede (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

You can grow them in pots, but the pot must have some depth.

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07 Feb 14, susan (Australia - temperate climate)

I found out that you can use the leaves as well as the root in a salad. I just pick the odd leaf as the plants are growing. They add a nice colour to a green salad

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