[scabs]

Hi,

I sowed a load of beetroot seeds a couple of weeks ago in an unheated propagator and most have come up. I have thinned them out so there is only one per cell and left them under the propagator.

I've not really grown much from seed before and have had huge failures so far this spring, so I was delighted with the results.

But the seedlings are about 1.5 inches and look a bit 'leggy' to me. Does this sound right, am I being paranoid? Also, should I take them out of the propagator?

Cheers,
Andrew

[DD.]

Anything should be taken out of a propagator or at least the lid taken off once germinated.

Personally I consider a propagator a bit over the top for beetroot and sow mine driect in the ground.

[scabs]

Thanks DD, I'll take the lid off when I get home.

I have sowed direct too, but very little has come up, I've no idea why... I also tried cells without a propagator and nothing germinated!

My father says it is because I was out of sync with the moon... which is a worry.

I love beetroot and this was the last act of a desperate man! 

[Gardeningguru]

Thanks DD, I'll take the lid off when I get home.

I have sowed direct too, but very little has come up, I've no idea why... I also tried cells without a propagator and nothing germinated!

My father says it is because I was out of sync with the moon... which is a worry.

I love beetroot and this was the last act of a desperate man! 

You can keep sowing through the summer by the way!   Also if they are leggy, that might indicate lack of enough light too.  So as well as taking off the lid,  make sure they are in a "bright" spot too. 

[scabs]

They are on the kitchen windowsill... it's the biggest window we have. 

But thanks!  Perhaps I am being too nervous?

[DD.]

They are too warm, this is causing them to put on rapid growth.

I make numerous repeated sowings during the season, but only go by the sun. If it's out - it's not raining & I'm not going to get soaked sowing seeds.

[savbo]

you could always plant the leggy beet a bit deeper - I did that, tranferring them to other modules and they've done great. planted in the ground about 2 weeks ago now...

[Janeymiddlewife]

It's my first year growing on the allotment, but my beetroot has come up very "gappy" - like 6 inches of seedlings, then a foot without, all the way along a ten foot row - bizarre.
Now I really will have to sow sucessionally , just to fill in the gaps!

[sunshineband]

I planted two ,ots.. one staight in the ground and one under a cloche, supposed to be between the french beasn. What was I thinking of  :blink:   The insiders are awful whilst the outsiders look good.

Oh, well the others are uncoverd now, having been hardened off and will have to take their chance. Daft me there 

[diggerjoe]

I have just sown some more in paper pots, as I grew the first batch in small modules in two trays and put them out side to get some fresh air in the day and the wind took them and tipped out the lot  got home from work to shrivelled up seedlings so have used the paper pots that had parsnips in that didnt germinate and just put another beetroot seed in each. I have never had any success sowing direct.

[andreadon]

i've not even opened the packt of my beetroot yet!
it's not too late to start again if you're worried about it.