Beetroot is a famous root vegetable that people usually use in various cuisines. It is also known as beets and is quite easy to grow. The easy-to-grow ability of beetroot makes it a suitable choice for beginners.
The best thing is that the beetroot requires little space to grow. Further, it comes with a vast range of vitamins, minerals, and other compounds with many health benefits. It has several antioxidants and carries a sweet taste.
Beetroot will also look great in your garden, and it has a size of a golf or a tennis ball. Now you might wonder how to grow beetroot at your home. Here, you will find a few simple steps to grow beetroot quickly.
Steps to Grow Beetroots
Follow the steps if you want to grow beet.
Step 1: Select the Seeds
For the plantation of beet, you first need to select the seeds. The beetroot seeds are readily available in the market and are affordable. You will not require spending a lot of money on buying the beetroot seeds.
You can visit the local nursery to purchase the number of seeds as per your need. If you are sowing beetroot early, then you should invest in the Boltardy seeds.
On the other hand, if you choose the golden and white seed varieties, you may have to wait for a longer duration until it grows fully.
Step 2: Choose the Suitable Space
Once you have purchased the baby beets seed next, you will have to choose the right location to plant it. Make sure to pick the ideal space for growth so that the beet grows well. Try choosing the soil which is moist and fertile because it is optimal for beetroot growth.
On the other hand, examine the soil pH level before planting beetroot. Remember that the soil should not have too much acidity of lime. A soil with a neutral pH level is fine for the growth of beet.
Also, check the softness of the soil. Ensure that the soil does not have too much sand or clay because beetroot will not grow in that soil. Further, choose the sunny spot for the plantation because beet grows well in a sunny environment.
Apart from planting beetroot in the soil, you can also plant it in pots. If you are planting the round variety of beetroot, then a pot will be ideal for it. However, for round beetroot variety, ensure that the pot’s diameter is at least 8 inches while the pot should be around 20cm deep.
In case you choose the pot for the plantation, fill it up to the top. You can utilize multi-purpose compost to fill the pot. After that, sow the seeds thinly across the surface and cover them with compost.
Step 3: Till the Soil
After choosing the location, the next thing you should do is to till the soil. You should till the soil to make it ideal for beetroot. If there is any weed or debris in your area, then ensure to remove it first. To get rid of weed and debris, you can use weed killer.
You can get the weed killer from any local store. You can also create a DIY weed killer at your home. Apart from removing weed and debris, eliminate stones so that they do not stop the root growth. Also, try to level the area using the rake roughly. Make sure to apply the rake on the top of the surface to loosen it.
Besides, if you have heavy soil, try sowing beetroot seed in late autumn, while for lighter soil, begin the plantation process during the early spring season. Experts usually recommend leaving the soil rough if you have planned to plant during autumn.
Step 4: Sow Beetroot Seeds
Now you need to sow the beetroot seed. Ensure that the seed is 2 cm deep so that it grows fully. Remember to keep the seeds at least 10 to 15 cm away from each other.
Planting the seeds in rows will become easier for you. If you plan to plant more seeds, then make sure to sow the seeds every 14 days. Further, there are many beetroot varieties that you can choose from.
Step 5: Water Frequently
Once you are done with sowing the seed, the other thing you need to do is to take care of the beetroot seeds. During the initial stages, you will require watering it daily. Remember to keep on watering the plant until the leaves start growing.
The reason that we recommend water daily is that the seeds require a lot of water initially. Watering the soil will produce enough moisture that will be beneficial for the roots.
One mistake that most new gardeners make while watering the plant is that they over-water it. If you overwater the plant, it will prevent growth, due to which you should avoid over-watering. However, if you do over-watering, you will observe more leaves but fewer roots production, which is risky for plants.
On the other hand, if you are under-watering the plant, it will start producing woody roots. Therefore, you should provide a calculated amount of water to the plant for its optimal growth.
Step 6: Thin Them Out
After a couple of weeks, you will notice the beetroot plant having around 2 cm of leaves. Once your plant has 2 cm long leaves, then you should start thinning them out. We would recommend you remove the weakest seedlings so that they do not affect the overall growth of the plant.
While cutting the weakest seedlings, make sure that the remaining plants are at least 10 cm away from each other. This 10 cm of distance will let the plants expand easily, resulting in better overall growth.
However, some people suggest having more space. So, it is up to you how much space you want to keep between the plants. Further, a few gardeners usually start pulling them by hand, which is not a good practice. Remember not to pull them by hand as it can damage the roots of other plants as well.
Step 7: Fertilize the Plant
In plantations, fertilizing the plant is one of the most important steps. You can use various organic matter as a fertilizer for the plant. Experts recommend that you add 4 to 6 litres of organic fertilizer in an area of around 10 square meters.
While fertilizing, make sure to add a thin layer of compost. You can also use well-rotted manure as a fertilizer. For optimal and quick growth, you can also add 30g of high nitrogen fertilizer.
This nitrogen fertilizer is recommended if your plant is not growing well. This fertilizer will surely help you enhance the growth of your plant. However, ensure not to add too much nitrogen. On adding a greater amount of nitrogen, you might notice the growth of many leaves and low root development.
If you observe that there are smaller roots and big leaves, you should minimise fertiliser use. Or, instead of lowering the use of fertilizer, you can utilize fertilizer with a low nitrogen level.
Step 8: Protect from Birds and Weeds
Once your beetroot plant begins to grow, you will need to take great care of it. Growing beetroot plants may attain various birds that can be harmful to the plant. Not only birds but also weeds can harm the beetroot plant.
Therefore, ensure to keep both the weeds and birds away from the plant to ensure proper growth. Also, try to keep the plant frost-free. After that, harvesting beetroot will get easier for you. These steps will make you know how to grow beetroot at home.
Benefits of Using Beetroot
Following are the benefits of utilizing beetroot.
Full of Nutrients
Beetroot has numerous nutrients which are beneficial for human health. Though beetroot has fewer calories, it has a greater amount of minerals and vitamins. Studies have also shown that beetroot has almost all types of minerals and vitamins in it.
There are around 3.5 ounces of nutrients in beetroot. Apart from this, you will also find many inorganic pigments and nitrates which have diverse health usage.
Control Blood Pressure
Another vital benefit of the beetroot is that it can help you control blood pressure. Heart disease such as heart attack is the prime cause of various diseases.
The worst thing is that a large number of the audience dies each year because of this disease worldwide. Various heart diseases occur because of the disturbance in blood pressure which you can control with beetroot.
One research has proven that you will notice a significant decrease in your blood pressure by using beetroot. This blood pressure can decrease up to 5 to 10 mmHg within a few hours.
Improve Brain Health
Brain health is also essential for human growth. The beetroot also helps support brain health. It will improve the oxygen supply and blood flow to the brain and make it function well.
Besides, the nitrates present in the beetroot also help boost mental capacity. It also promotes the dilation of blood vessels, which help provide more blood to the brain.
Studies have also shown that the beetroot enhances blood movement to the brain’s frontal portion, which is quite beneficial for improving higher-level thinking.
On consuming beetroot regularly, you will notice an increase in your decision-making strength. It will also help improve your working memory.
Additionally, a study conducted on type 2 diabetics has also shown the effect of beetroot on people with diabetes. Therefore, if you want to improve the health of your brain, then try consuming beetroot regularly.