Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Krato on May 06, 2009, 13:29

Title: Beetroot Problem
Post by: Krato on May 06, 2009, 13:29

Hi there, first post on this forum! I'll be sure to post in the newbies forum shortly, just wanted to see if I could find an answer to my beetroot problem first.
I sown my beetroot seeds about one week ago, but I didn't plant them deep enough, now they have started sprouting but they're growing on top of the soil. Should I pull them out and start again or can I cover with more compost?

(http://f.imagehost.org/0057/beetroot1.jpg)

Thank You =]

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: paintedlady on May 06, 2009, 13:36

while at that early stage of germination, I might be tempted to lightly sprinkle some compost over the top.  But as beetroot are normally so easy to grow, if that fails you can always sow some more  ;)

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: Krato on May 06, 2009, 13:38

Thanks for your reply =]
I managed to mess up one of the easiest vegetables to grow? Oh dea! Not a great start lol

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: Eatyourgreens on May 06, 2009, 13:39

I work on the larger the seed the deeper it goes.


Bob

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: Krato on May 06, 2009, 13:48

Quote from: Eatyourgreens on May 06, 2009, 13:39

I work on the larger the seed the deeper it goes.


Bob

I've planted squash at the same depth and they're quite large so think I'll go top up the soil!

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: Trebor on May 06, 2009, 15:06

Try not to disturb them too much – they don’t take kindly to root disturbance as I found out when trying to even the row out a bit with transplants. (But it may have just been my clumsy mitts!)

Title: Re: Beetroot Problem
Post by: paintedlady on May 06, 2009, 15:43

I'd forgotten about that - yes, they definitely don't like the root disturbing (same goes for chard and others in the leaf beet family)  All it does is stop growing for a little while (very noticeable when comparing it with one left undisturbed that were sown the same time), but will recover eventually.