The Best Way to Plant Beetroot in Your Garden: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Beetroot is one of the most satisfying and versatile vegetables you can grow at home. With its earthy sweetness, vibrant colour, and wide range of culinary uses—from roasting and pickling to juicing and grating raw—beetroot is both easy to grow and highly rewarding. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or looking to perfect your crop, understanding the best way to plant beetroot in your garden will set you up for a successful, bountiful harvest.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn how to grow beetroot from seed to harvest, including soil preparation, sowing tips, care advice, pest prevention, and harvesting techniques.

Why Grow Beetroot at Home?

🥗 Nutrient-rich: High in fibre, folate, potassium, and antioxidants
🌱 Quick and easy: Grows fast and doesn’t need much space
💰 Budget-friendly: One packet of seeds produces dozens of roots
🌈 Colourful and tasty: Comes in red, golden, white, and striped varieties
🧺 Dual use: You can eat both the root and the beet greens!

Best Beetroot Varieties to Grow in the UK

Variety	Colour	Features
Boltardy	Deep red	Bolt-resistant, great for early sowing
Chioggia	Red & white rings	Beautiful candy-striped flesh, sweet flavour
Golden Detroit	Bright yellow	Mild and sweet, does not bleed when cooked
Cylindra	Dark red	Long, cylindrical roots—great for slicing
Pablo F1	Dark red	Uniform shape and size, good for all seasons

Tip: Grow a mix of colours for an eye-catching and flavourful harvest.

When to Plant Beetroot in the UK

Task	Timing
Indoor sowing	Late February to April
Outdoor sowing	March to July
Succession sowing	Every 2–3 weeks until mid-July
Harvesting	May to October

Beetroot prefers cool conditions—spring and early summer sowings usually perform best.

Where to Plant Beetroot

Beetroot can be grown in:

Open ground or raised beds
Containers or deep troughs
Greenhouses (for early crops)
Grow bags or fabric pots

Wherever you grow it, make sure the location has:

Full sun (at least 6 hours/day)
Well-drained, fertile soil
Protection from excessive drought or waterlogging

Step-by-Step: The Best Way to Plant Beetroot

Step 1: Prepare the Soil

Beetroot grows best in:

Light, sandy loam with good drainage
Soil pH of 6.0–7.0
Stone-free soil to avoid misshapen roots

Soil Prep Tips:

Add compost or well-rotted manure several weeks before sowing
Rake the bed to a fine tilth and remove any rocks
Avoid fresh manure or high nitrogen feeds—these cause leafy growth at the expense of roots

Step 2: Sow the Seeds

Seed Basics:

Beetroot seeds are actually clusters of 2–5 seeds
You’ll usually need to thin seedlings after they sprout

Direct Sowing (Recommended):

Sow seeds 1–2cm deep
Space seeds 10cm apart, with rows 30cm apart
Water the soil thoroughly after sowing

Indoor Sowing (for early crops):

Sow in modules or trays in March or April
Transplant to the garden when seedlings are 4–6 weeks old

Tip: Soak seeds in warm water for 1 hour before planting to speed up germination.

Step 3: Thin Out Seedlings

Once seedlings are 2–3cm tall, thin to 1 strong plant per cluster
Final spacing should be 10–15cm apart for full-sized roots
Use the thinnings in salads—they’re tender and tasty!

Caring for Beetroot Plants

1. Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during germination and root development
Avoid waterlogging or letting the soil dry out completely
Mulch around plants to retain moisture

2. Feeding

Beetroot generally doesn’t need feeding if planted in rich soil
If growth is slow, use a balanced liquid feed once or twice during the season

3. Weeding

Keep beds weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and water
Weed by hand or with a hoe to avoid disturbing shallow roots

Growing Beetroot in Containers

Perfect for patios, balconies, or small gardens.

Container Tips:

Use pots at least 20cm deep with drainage holes
Fill with multipurpose compost mixed with garden soil
Sow thinly and water regularly
Harvest at golf ball size for the best flavour

Companion Planting with Beetroot

Beetroot is a friendly neighbour in the garden.

Good Companions:

Lettuce – shallow roots won’t compete
Onions – deter pests and improve soil health
Cabbage – works well in rotation
Radishes – fast harvests and loosen soil

Avoid Planting Near:

Pole beans – may stunt beetroot growth
Field mustard – attracts similar pests

Common Beetroot Problems and Solutions

Problem	Symptoms	Solution
Bolting	Plants flower early, small roots	Sow bolt-resistant varieties like Boltardy
Forked or misshapen roots	Uneven growth, twisted roots	Remove stones, avoid fresh manure
Flea beetles	Tiny holes in leaves	Use mesh covers, water regularly
Downy mildew	Fuzzy patches on leaves	Improve airflow, remove affected leaves
Poor germination	Patchy rows, few sprouts	Keep soil moist and avoid cold, wet soil

Harvesting Beetroot

When to Harvest:

Beetroot is ready 7–10 weeks after sowing
Harvest when roots are golf ball to tennis ball size
Overgrown beetroot may become woody and lose sweetness

How to Harvest:

Gently loosen the soil with a fork
Grasp the base of the stem and pull carefully
Trim leaves 2–3cm above the root to prevent bleeding

Pro Tip: Don’t cut the root tip or stems too short—it causes “bleeding” during cooking.

Using and Storing Beetroot

Fresh Use:

Grate raw into salads
Roast with herbs and olive oil
Boil or steam for a side dish

Storage:

Store in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months
Keep roots in sand or sawdust for long-term storage
Refrigerate trimmed roots for up to 2 weeks

Freezing:

Cook first, then slice and freeze in portions
Not ideal raw, as texture may be lost

Pickling:

Traditional UK favourite!
Boil, peel, and preserve in vinegar and spices

Succession Planting for Continuous Harvests

For fresh beetroot all summer and autumn:

Sow every 2–3 weeks from March to mid-July
Use fast-maturing varieties like Boltardy or Pablo F1
Harvest early as baby beets or leave to grow on

Bonus Tip: Grow a late crop in containers under cover for extended harvests into early winter.

Conclusion

Beetroot is a low-maintenance, high-reward crop that belongs in every home garden. Whether you want classic red roots, golden gems, or pretty candy-striped varieties, planting beetroot the right way ensures a steady, colourful harvest all season long.

By preparing your soil well, sowing successively, and caring for your plants through regular watering and thinning, you’ll grow delicious beets from seed to plate. And with so many ways to cook and preserve them, they’ll be a highlight of your garden and your kitchen.