The Beetroot (latin name – Beta vulgaris), variety – Bolthardy, was sown on 15 May & is ready for thinning.
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
Place a marker stick down the row, with spacings (eg. 4ins) clearly marked.
* 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 the surplus seedlings individually, but very carefully.
* Use a board to kneel on to allow a steady hand.
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
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.