Beetroot is an easy, healthy root vegetable that delivers from early summer well into winter. But two quirks keep causing confusion: why do several plants come up from one seed, and how does the harvest keep until spring?
Both have to do with the same red marvel. We follow the path from seed to earth store step by step, and then beetroot works from the first bed to the last winter dish.
Why several plants come up in one spot
The seed of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) consists, in most varieties, of what are called clusters. Each of these corky grains contains not one but two to four seeds. Sow one cluster, and several seedlings come out of the soil there.
That is why thinning is a fixed part of growing it. You nip out the surplus seedlings and leave only the strongest per spot. Skip it and you harvest lots of small, misshapen roots. There are also monogerm varieties that spare you the thinning.
How to grow beetroot
Sow from mid-May
Sow the clusters about 2 cm deep and 10 cm apart, from CW 17 to 26. Sowing too early into cold soil can lead to bolting later.
Thin to one plant
Once the seedlings are a few centimetres tall, leave only the strongest per spot. The pulled seedlings go into the kitchen as a leaf salad.
Water evenly
If the moisture swings sharply, the roots crack open or turn woody. Water regularly in dry spells and the flesh stays tender.
Use the leaves too
You can pick individual young leaves as you go and prepare them like chard. Never take them all at once, or you slow the root.
Harvest fist-sized
Beetroot tastes best fist-sized. Then it is tender and sweet. Big specimens turn fibrous and lose flavour.
How to store beetroot until spring
The clever thing about beetroot is that it stores superbly. Done right, you have your own root vegetable in the cellar until the next season.
One cluster, several seedlings, one plant. And when storing, never injure the root, or it bleeds out.
The core rule for beetroot
Frequently asked questions
Why do several plants come up from one seed?
Because the seed is a cluster of several seeds. When thinning, leave only the strongest plant per spot. If you want to skip that, choose a single-seeded, monogerm variety.
Can I eat the leaves?
Yes, and it is worth it. Young leaves taste like mild chard, raw in a salad or briefly steamed. Only ever pick individual leaves so the root keeps growing.
Why is my beetroot woody?
Usually it was too big at harvest or suffered from swinging moisture. Harvest fist-sized and water evenly, and the flesh stays tender and sweet.
Why does my beetroot bolt?
Sowing too early into cold soil can program the plant to flower. So sow only from mid-May, once the soil has warmed, or take a bolt-resistant variety.
How do I best store beetroot?
In a box of slightly damp sand, cool and frost-free in the cellar. Twist the leaves off beforehand rather than cutting, and leave the root intact. That way it keeps all winter.
