[Lottie Mary]

This is my first year attempting to grow Beetroot and I planted some seeds on my allotment about 2-3 weeks ago.  It's been very warm here of late and I planted peas and mangetout at the same time.  The peas and mangetout have poked through the soil, but there's still no sign of beetroot seedlings!

Should I have started them off in trays at home and planted on?  The variety is Boltardy (I think, if memory serves!).  Any help, advice would be gratefully received - I'm looking forward to my beetroot 

[Aidy]

Give them a bit more time and see if they pop through, you could always have a root (nopun intended) to see if anything is happening.

[arugula]

We always sow beetroot direct and successionally so you don't have to plant in trays and pot on. You say its been warm, so too cold shouldn't be your problem. Aunt Sally has a good tip of sprinkling some salt into the seed drill - they like it. I don't do this as I live next to the sea, but perhaps you could do a forum search to find out more on that topic.

[Salmo]

2 weeks I would say wait a little longer. 3 weeks you can start to wory. A note on the calender of sowing dates is always useful.

My guess is that they are probably too dry.

Take care with the salt. If you put it on now it may well burn the seedlings. On clay soils it may destabalise the soil structure and make it cap. If you are going to use it then it should go on several weeks before sowing. Sodium in the salt can substitute for potash to some extent. Salt is a lot cheaper than potash, which is why farmers use it on sugar beet, which is another variety of beet. No real reason to use it on the vegetable plot.

[prakash_mib]

Mine is other way round. I sowed beetroot and peas in same time but beetroot appeared first. Remember beetroot seedlings are very tiny and very hard to spot (if you dont look closer) and it is little hard to differentiate between weed and them for some time. 

[cooperman]

I always sow my Beetroot in 60 cell modules in a cool greenhouse (or the cold frame if ive run out of room!)  They soon poke thru - planting out is easy and it saves time not having to thin the critters.....

[alancas]

i planted mine out about 3weeks ago the seedlings are about half inch long hang in there.

[Trillium]

Beetroot seeds can be very slow to sprout. And although the weather  is warm, it doesn't always follow that the soil is warm enough to their liking. Or wet enough. After I direct seed mine, I water every 2nd day until I see the first sprouts up. I've waited as long as 3 weeks for them.

[ruralbob]

While it's warm in the day it will drop too cold in the night for them. If they are cloched then take cover off during day.

We grew loads last year, but started them off very late, end of June. We got two very successful crops!!!