Planting My Winter Garden: Beets
I’ve planted my favorite variety of beet, 'Baby Ball’ again this season. It’s been reliable for many years. The Renee’s Garden catalog description of the Holland import is spot on: Perfectly rounded, petite crimson beets with fine tips, mellow sweet taste and delicious healthful greens. Early to harvest. Pick at baby size or maturity.
Before planting I followed these seed priming instructions to improve and hasten germination from GrowVeg.com:
Beet seeds have thick, wrinkled seed coats that soften when “washed” in several changes of water. Place seeds in a jar, cover them with room temperature water, and drain off and replace the water every 30 minutes. After six changes of water, many of the natural germination inhibitors present in the seed coats are removed. Drain the primed beet seeds on paper towels overnight, and plant the next day. Primed beet seeds emerge in 4 to 5 days, compared to 7 to 12 days for dry seeds.
Here’s the planting method that works well for me. Previously, I’ve added compost and organic fertilizer to the soil. I make an impression about 1/2 inch deep with my finger and drop the beet seed in the hole. Then, with a spoon, I cover the seed with sifted compost and lightly press the soil with the back of the spoon. No rocks or tiny pieces of wood for the emerging seedling to dislodge. Though planted close together, I pull smaller beets to make room for larger ones to grow.
Unless you plant mono-germ beets, each seedball/fruit will produce two to four seedlings, which of course won’t work. Thinning beets can be tedious but sharp scIssors help. I select the sturdiest in the seed clump and snip the others with scissors. Thinned beets usually find their way to a salad the same day.
For more information on growing beets check these short articles from GrowVeg.com
Beets for Beginners
How to Grow Gourmet Garden Beets
My takeaway for this year’s planting: I’ll sprinkle them lightly with grass clippings every time we mow the lawn to hold moisture in the soil and add nitrogen. (This assumes no weedkillers used on the lawn).
Beet Borscht simmering on the stove.
