ok, now a beet question!

Ok so I bought beets from my local nursery and they were in the container with 4 separate compartments (you know, the standard plant thingys you buy!). Anyways, it looked like there was more than 1 beet plant per section and I asked about it and if I should separate it and the guy said no, it was just 1 beet plant and that I should NEVER separate them. I told him I was doing SFG and he looked at me and just said "well I dont know anything about that so I can't help you" and walked away (rude, I know!). So I planted them - I have 4 squares with 16 plants in each, but I'm feeling like there's more than 1 plant per bunch. Am I overcrowding my beets? What's going to happen if they stay there and are too crowded? do I thin them? If I thin them how do I do that because when I tried to pull 1 'section' the whole thing that I put in from the container will come out. I hope this makes sense, I'm so confused and really looking forward to beets so I don't want to wreck them - especially if it's a simple solution! Sorry again if this is a stupid question - I'm brand spankin new! haha

Here's a pic of what looks like more than 1 plant!

The beet 'seed' that gets planted is actually a pod that contains 4-5 seeds. So you are correct, there is more than one plant in each section.

Carefully use scissors to cut the stalks at soil level, and leave just one plant to grow. I've done 16 per square in the past, but I prefer 9. I've read that spacing can influence beet size, but I haven't experienced that one way or another. I plant 9 because the leaves get so big sometimes.

boffer wrote:The beet 'seed' that gets planted is actually a pod that contains 4-5 seeds. So you are correct, there is more than one plant in each section.

Carefully use scissors to cut the stalks at soil level, and leave just one plant to grow. I've done 16 per square in the past, but I prefer 9. I've read that spacing can influence beet size, but I haven't experienced that one way or another. I plant 9 because the leaves get so big sometimes.

+1.
boffer, you gotta prune the foliage for supper.

Yeah, I know I should, but even the small tender leaves don't do much for me.

I cooked beet greens for the first time this week and thought they were really good - not bitter at all like some greens. We also pick the little leaves and toss in our salads.

I've become a fan - but I have my limits with greens... Kale, I cannot do

I harvest the leaves several times over the season. Cut them off about 1 inch above ground level, they will send up new leaves. Use them fresh in salads, or try steaming, boiling, or wilting them and drizzle a little vinegar or lemon juice over top and a smidge of butter. YUM! I thin by harvesting the smaller beets when they are about 1 inch across. They will easily seperate from the other beets without pulling the remaining beets out with them. Try oven roasting this size of beet (without tops) with olive oil and seasoning. Also add baby carrots you have thinned out, small pearl onions, and new potatoes.
Continue to thin as they reach 1 inch or more in width until just one beet is left per pod (seed planted) to grow to maturity.
Have you tried the cylinder beets?