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Thinning Out Beetroot

28
Apr, 2017
By Sally Osgerby
  • Blog,Root Veg,Salad
  • No comments

The Beetroot (latin name – Beta vulgaris), variety – Bolthardy, was sown on 15 May & is ready for thinning.

beetroot row

beetroot row

Before thinning:

* It is important to consider the size of root required. If baby beet are desired for salads and pickling whole, they may be spaced closer together. If larger roots are wanted for winter storage or sliced beet, they need to have more room to develop. The average   spacing in the row for thinned beetroot is 4inches.
* Water the row of seedlings before thinning.
* Allow plenty of time for thinning; this job cannot be rushed.

beetroot seedlings

beetroot seedlings

Place a marker stick down the row, with spacings (eg. 4ins) clearly marked.

* select weak plant

select weak plant

select weak plant

Assess the seedlings beside the marks. It is more important to leave the strongest plants than have the exact spacing. So if a weak plant is nearest the mark, select the stongest looking seedling closest to it.
* pull out individual plants

pull out plants individually

pull out plants individually

Pull out the surplus seedlings individually, but very carefully.
* Use a board to kneel on to allow a steady hand.

thinned beetroot

thinned beetroot

 

Do not pull out surplus seedlings in a bunch, because the mass of roots will disturb the roots of the plant selected to be left to grow on.
* The baby leaves of the discarded seedlings may be eaten in salads, or cooked as a vegetable.
* seedling beetroot

seedling beetroot

seedling beetroot

It is worth taking time to thin out beetroot carefully, to get return on all the previous effort of preparing the seed bed and sowing.

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