Re: Help with Beets

quiltbea 7/16/2011, 11:56 am

I'd say the beets aren't getting enough potassium if you get all greens and small roots.

Try adding some greensand, seaweed or wood ashes added to your squares before planting your next ones.

GWN 3/24/2012, 6:09 pm

I have found this older thread, and I wonder whether to put beets in my Mels mix or to do the same thing I did last year.
I had huge beets and was very successful, just got a load of dirt from a hay farm,
What other experience have SFgardeners had with Beets.?

I am not sure I will be able to change all of my beds over to mels mix this year and I am trying to decide which plants might do better without it?

THanks

landarch 3/25/2012, 11:11 pm

I did well with beets in kansas city last year. I planted in heavy clay mended with coffee grounds and peat moss, about a month late, and watered every couple of days. I seeded a 1' strip around the outside edge of a 4'x8' box so I could plant tomatoes in the middle and not distrub the beets. The beets varied in size 1.5"-2.5" dia with large tops (didn't know you could eat them). I thinned the beets at multiple stages.

With that said, I am curious as well about beets now that I have converted to SFG and Mels Mix. I need to so again this week for hte second staggered seeding.

GWN 3/26/2012, 9:51 am

I am in zone 5 and have planted the beets and made small hoops and covered the bed in plastic,
I am trying one bed for beets with mels mix and one without, in the ground with amended soil.
We will see how it goes.

greenThumbsUp 4/13/2012, 10:05 am

The best beets that I have ever grown were in the fall.
I think they set better in cooler soil.
If you find that most of your beets grow more leaves than root. Try a variety that can do double duty, tasty greens and earthy roots.

kbb964 4/13/2012, 10:20 am

I am trying beets for the first time, I planted seeds April 4th and 2 are just poking through the soil now , April 13th. I am zone 5b and we have had two freezes this week but my beds are under plastic and blankets. lol.

I have read they do better in the fall.
We love pickled beets, never eaten them any other way but Jamie Oliver roasts them! Might try that sometime'

quiltbea 4/13/2012, 10:45 am

a personal to kbb......Don't you just love that Jamie Oliver and his cooking show, Jamie At Home? He's so quick.

kbb964 4/13/2012, 10:47 am

yeah! his episode In the Garden with Jamie, strawberries was awesome. who knew strawberries love Balsamic! On a plate that is not in the SFG

**walshevak** 4/13/2012, 10:49 am

Watched him fathfully when living in England 1999-2002

Kay

landarch 4/13/2012, 2:10 pm

I have planted some additional beets in an area that will be shaded a bit by future tomatoes and cucumbers. I have my beets in the ground about a month earlier than last year. They are not growing as well as last year however.

kbb964 4/13/2012, 7:24 pm

I have 3 beet seedlings poking through, I am so excited !

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