Beets respond well if you grow them in a raised bed. Bok Choy: Grow one plant in an 8-inch (20 cm) pot. This quick maturing beet features a candy red stripe and a white interior. If you are considering a fast-growing root crop to plant in containers, yet don’t like a spicy bite of radish, then why not try growing beets which is pretty simple! Beets love full sun but do not like hot weather or dry conditions, so plan well considering your climate when you plant beets. 5 Tips How To Improve Drainage In Potted Plants, Top 11 Vegetables To Grow in Pots During Winter. You’ll notice that each beet seed is actually a cluster of 2-4 seeds. The smaller the container, the quicker the soil dries out and the less room its roots have to grow. With that being said, thank you for dropping by and please leave me a comment on one of my posts if you would like to get in touch! Beetroot produces a cluster of seeds during warm weather. In the table below, you'll find a short list of beet varieties that grow well in pots. The soil of beets should be kept moist, but not waterlogged. Beets quickly use up nutrients in the soil, so it is necessary to add supplemental fertilizer once during its growth. In our trials we’ve identified the following as container-friendly: they’re compact, thrive in small spaces (like greenhouses and patios), and produce high yields. If you do happen to run into problems during your beet farming experience, please feel free to leave me a comment. Older leaves may be used like chard. These super-fast maturing beets reveal a candy striped red and white interior. Being creative in the garden can really be quite fascinating so let's share our experiences and be the best gardeners we can be. Be sure to remember to remove all rocks and hard clumps from within the body of the soil. When planting your beets, take care to ensure that the plants are not crowded in their containers. Beetroot can be harvested after about 70 days of planting. Tricked by the weather, assuming they are in their second season, they will produce flowers prematurely. Of course, if you have ideas, I would love to hear those as well! Thanks for this helpful look at growing beets in containers. Homemade compost teas will also be very efficient in delivering proper nutrition. Onions, kohlrabi. Seeds can benefit from a brief soaking in water for 4-6 hours before planting to soften seed coat. I want to grow more of my own food, and I don't have a lot of garden space, so this is perfect for me. I'll try it. Beets can adapt to any variety of soil, but they do better when provided with an enriched one. Boron is responsible for the plant’s cell functioning, protein synthesis, cell wall development, sugar transport, pollen growth, carbohydrate metabolism, fruit set, and seed production. Voted up, useful and socially shared. Most growers harvest beet crops when they are about an inch in diameter for delicious flavor, but not more than 2 ½ inches in diameter. Awesome, right? Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Plant Your Beet Seeds. Each row of beetroot should be spaced around 1 ft apart. For the most tender and flavorsome leaves, pick young when less than 6 inches in length. To help speed the germination process, you can pre-soak the seeds in water overnight. Fill the pot with potting soil amended with organic matter like compost. then, but better late than never :) ....I'll be book marking this for my next batch. Make sure to leave at least an inch between the rim of the container and the beets. Beets grow best at lower temperatures, and the seeds will normally germinate in 17 days if the soil is at 50 F. Beets grow best in conditions of uniform moisture. Growing beets in a container is a great way to harvest bountiful yields! If the seeds are growing in seed trays with covers on them or any other sort of humidity-retaining feature, you will probably only need to water them every two or three days. Strong foliage and the classic deep red beet root! I'll be glad to help out. It features robust leaves with classic deep-red beets. When thinning your seedlings, try using scissors to cut at the base of unneeded seedlings. Cutworms are pests you can find curling under the soil. Caring for Beets. With the new knowledge at hand, you'll be growing successful crops of container beets throughout the season. When the beet plants have reached an age of around one month, prepare to administer your fertilizer. Fill the containers with your potting soil as normal. Leaves turning from green to red when the temperature reaches freezing is not harmful to beets – some varieties have red leaves naturally. I wish you the best of luck and thank you for stopping by to read my article on how to grow beets in pots. The following varieties above provide exceptional results when grown in a container. Water the beets deeply so the roots seek the water in the soil. This will increase the possibilities of transplant shock, resulting in stunted growth. Pulling these could cause root damage to the remaining beets. When the top inch of soil has become dry, it's time to water. Keep a close eye on your dirt. Harvest and enjoy beets … You can also grow beets in any large container; just drill a few holes in the bottom for drainage. First of all when growing beets in containers, pick your beet variety, of which there are a number of choices. They will cut and chew stems, roots and the leaves of your plants. Beets tend to become woody when left in the ground for too long. Are you on the hunt for a fast-growing root crop to plant in containers, but don't necessarily care for the "spicy bite" of radishes? Although beets grow best in cool conditions with lots of sun, containers allow you to move the plants to the best advantage when growing in fall and winter. Boron deficiency varies on the susceptibility of different varieties. Fill the container with your potting mix. This type of material decays quickly in soil, so you can transplant the seedlings without removing them from such pots, preventing root damage from handling. For container-grown beets, use a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition once a week while you water. As they are heavy feeders, beets will also need an initial potting soil with high nutritional value. Deep red foliage with medium-sized beets. Water the plant regularly to keep the beet tender and to prevent discoloration. Use row covers to prevent issues like pests and. Cindy A Johnson from Sevierville, TN on March 02, 2012: Thanks for this information. This innovative trimmer has superior performance, great versatility, and is easy to maneuver, especially in …. I do have some space in my back yard, but I always just grew flowers, now having heard the entire series on 'The Truth about Cancer The Global Quest, and am hearing. Choose a sunny spot to place growing beet plants. You can deal with this problem by placing a 3-inch paper collar around the stem. Harvesting Tips & Storage. Beets are tasty and easy to grow, and both the roots and leaves can be used in cooking. Root vegetables, like beets, do not necessarily need to grow from seed, and can flourish indoors. I grow them in the garden and always have a big harvest. Water the seeds well and cover the pots to keep the soil moist. I may give this a go. Although radish can be harvested sooner compared to beets, this root crop grows fast too. Required fields are marked *, The Makita Cordless String Trimmer is one of the most reliable, well-designed, and easy-to-use trimmers. Early Wonder is a variety of beets that takes 45-50 days to reach its maturity. Containers Offer Mobility. Keep the plants tidy by picking off damaged leaves as the plants grow. Just be sure to leave at least an inch between the rim of the container and the first planting of beets. Seed your beets in a seed tray with individual containers, each container having around three inches of soil depth. Beet gardening in a container is not for limited space alone. Seedlings that fail to germinate happens when the temperatures are too high when you plant the seedlings. As an alternative, you can plant this plant 10 weeks before the frost. Store the newly harvested crops in a cool, dry place. Beet seeds have a tough seed coat that can lead to long germination times. Gillian Namele from Complicated on April 09, 2012: I have never tried growing them in containers. Make sure to leave at least an inch between the rim of the container and the beets. If you plant beets for the beetroot, you must prevent the plants to bloom or bolt. Avoid overhead watering too. Plant beet seeds a half inch deep and spaced 2–3 inches apart. Planting too deep also stimulates its growth. A light, well-draining soil is best. To lessen bleeding in leaves, twist to remove greens instead of cutting them. I tried a few beets in my tiny garden last year and they did ok. Beets make a great container plant. Follow the directions provided with your fertilizer and prepare one application. Hi Jo, great hub, I grew beet in a box container for the first time last year I could have used this info. Then let’s continue to learn how to grow beets in containers. 10 Tips To Make Your Garden Look Better In Winter. My name is Benita Abucejo. Each beet seed is actually a piece of fruit. Dry seeds can easily be brushed off from the stem. Boron deficiency is a disorder caused by rapid growth due to wide spacing, excessive nitrogen and potassium applications, and too much soil moisture. Beet Care. In addition to that, beet container growing will save you from back pain due to bending and weeding. Soil that is loamy, penetrable and promotes the development of large roots is best for growing … Sow seeds half an inch deep. Here are a few varieties you can pick that grow well in container pots. The beets will start to germinate in a couple of weeks. For a continuous harvest of beets, plant a new crop every three to four weeks until late summer. So, a soil test is necessary to know the crop’s exact requirements. The seeds are wind-pollinated and can cross-pollinate unless isolated or bagged. When is the best time to sow beetroot seeds? Water and Feeding Beets. While rocks in the soil can hurt beet roots, rocks under the soil will actually help the roots by ensuring that the soil does not become waterlogged. Cover and water the seeds well. Matching their astonishing growth rates are their equally great sweet flavors. We grow so many of them from the time my son told us they are good for anemia. Bull's Blood Beets growing in a raised garden container. Your email address will not be published. When thinning the seedlings, you may opt to use scissors to snip the base of unneeded seedlings or pull them gently by hand. These are the factors that you should consider for successful beet growth. Depth is the most significant factor you have to consider when growing beets in a container. Beets: Grow seven plants in a 2- or 3-gallon (7.5-11L) container and up to two dozen in a 10-gallon (38L) container; thin plant to 2-inches (5 cm) apart. However, you have to be careful as you pull as to not damage the remaining healthy beets. Container Growing Beets. But wait, it's not just all about the root! You will know your plants are boron deficient if you find these following symptoms: You can amend boron deficient soil with boron fertilizer like borax, boric acid, and solubor. Beets have a sweet taste and prefer the cold weather of spring and fall, so you’ll be able to utilize the growing containers for the summer crops after you harvest them. Always ensure there’s no water-logging by keeping the soil well-drained and free from other pathogens. Slice off the top portion of a beet with a kitchen knife. Planting at the right time is essential to avoid such an issue, and to lift the roots when the plant begins to flower. You will be able to move them around or bring them indoors when outside temperatures are freezing. Beets, like many other root crops, do best in potting soils that are free of pebbles, rocks and hard clumps. Because beets are generally grown as a root crop, they will do best in full sun but should do fine in part shade. I will be harvesting them soon. I appreciate your well-written article, nicely done. The secret to successful container gardening is choosing the right varieties. Beets are biennials. Containers Get a pot that's at least 12 inches deep and you can grow beets on your deck, suggests Lance Frazon of John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds … Each one contains 3 or 4 beet seeds. Sprinkling wood ash around the plant base and keeping the garden weed-free can help too. Grow two plants in a 10-gallon (38L) container. Beets are ready to transplant when they get their first pair of real leaves. A good beet fertilizer is something like a 5-10-10 which is added to the soil before planting. Detroit Dark Red is a variety of beets that takes 55-65 days to reach its maturity. Overwatering and too much humidity can cause this mold. Next, select a pot with at least 6 inches (15 cm.) Lettuce. Here's a look at a few more edible crops that are perfect mates for containers: This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. Once the majority of the beet seeds have begun to sprout, thin out the seedlings so that they stand three inches apart from each other. Damping-off is a fungus that will weaken or kill seedlings just before or after they germinate. Organic fertilizer with equal NPK levels or homemade liquid compost is sufficient enough to provide essential nutrition. Six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day would be ideal. Soil – rich, loose, well-draining, with no pests and weed seeds is great for growing vegetables. Now that the beets are in proper spacing, most of your remaining tasks will be watering while the plants are growing. https://seasonalpreferences.com › grow-beets-in-containers-guide Note: While the beet varieties above will provide excellent results for the container gardener, don't be afraid explore other varieties as well! 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