[danandgeorgie]

Hi all

Another query for you knowledgable lot!

I've been growing beetroot from seed in pots.  On Sunday I selected the best, strongest looking plants and planted them out.  Watered them in well and then it rained.  The problem is the leaves have wilted to the floor and shown no signs of perking up.  Will they be OK or are they on their last legs?  What should I do now?

By the way I'm off to look at my first allotment plot on Saturday!  Very excited but then I've no doubt I'll have even more daft questions!

Thanks all
Dan

[DD.]

You have to be very careful in transplanting root veg to avoid root disturbance. It gets trickier as the plant matures.

How large were your transplants?

[rubyrose]

hi i transplanted beetroot thinnings, gave them a good watering and they wilted and looked dead but i left them and after a few days new leaves appeared in the middle . they now are growing really well.                good luck with lotty

[danandgeorgie]

You have to be very careful in transplanting root veg to avoid root disturbance. It gets trickier as the plant matures.

How large were your transplants?

Hi DD thanks for the response.  They were about 3" above ground with at least 6 decent leaves and the bulb just starting to take shape.  Single 3" long root.  Dibbed hole to ensure root could go straight down and just left leaves above suface.

[DD.]

I never transplant root veg, but they sound a little on the large side to me.

[danandgeorgie]

D'oh!  I guess like Ruby I'll leave it a while and hope for the best!

[Paul Plots]

As far as I know you are not likely to have much success transplanting thinnings.

If, on the other hand, you sow beetroot into small cells and then plant out when and where you need them this should work. 

[Trillium]

I've always found that transplanting beetroot is just as tricky as transplanting cukes or parsnips - pretty much impossible.

Beetroot really don't like to be dislodged from the soil at any point. I've transplanted some very small ones in the past and they grew, but never as well as their brothers who I left intact and planted the whole module.

There's no need to plant them singly in neat rows like toms and such. I just direct seed them and let them grow, even bunched up a bit and thin those only when they're edible sizes. Some folk prefer to simply thin them out at a young growth, but never to transplant them.

[m1ckz]

hmmmm i allways grow beetroot in a tray and tansplant,99% grow well,,i guess its luck of the draw  lol,
but my parsnips  well not so good 40% this year,

[Kristen]

I grow beetroot in 3" pots, 3 per pot, and plant out without much issue. I don't disturb / separate the plants, just knock the rootball cleanly out of the pot and plant.

In dry (let alone drought!) weather I make the planting holes, FILL with plenty of water, allow to drain, then plant. The plants then have plenty of water UNDER them to encourage them to root downwards - where they are more likely to find more water . I seldom water for at least another week after planting (in order not to encourage surface roots which will shrivel when the sun comes out ...)

But having said all that, direct-sowing avoids the transplanting issue completely.

[Paul Plots]

I grow beetroot in 3" pots, 3 per pot, and plant out without much issue. I don't disturb / separate the plants, just knock the rootball cleanly out of the pot and plant.

In dry (let alone drought!) weather I make the planting holes, FILL with plenty of water, allow to drain, then plant. The plants then have plenty of water UNDER them to encourage them to root downwards - where they are more likely to find more water . I seldom water for at least another week after planting (in order not to encourage surface roots which will shrivel when the sun comes out ...)

But having said all that, direct-sowing avoids the transplanting issue completely.

The only problem with direct planting, apart from extra weeding, is having time to water more regularly. 

[DD.]

What extra watering?

New sown seeds need no more than transplants.

[Paul Plots]

What extra watering?

New sown seeds need no more than transplants.

I find I can stick in beetroot grown in cells, water and leave them for a week to get on with it.

Seed on the other hand needs to be kept moist in my clay soil or very little happens.