Let’s be honest, Beetroot is not a vegetable you’re likely to have at the top of your list when looking for information on growing in pots. Beetroots are one of my favourite vegetables and the homegrown variety is a different breed entirely than the ones you may buy at the shop. Packed full of flavour and simpler to grow than you might think, beetroots have fast become a popular vegetable at home. There are plenty of ways to make the most out of a beetroot harvest, and they also have a long shelf life when preserved correctly. Welcome to my guide on how to sow beetroots, plant out beetroots, how to grow beetroot in pots, when to harvest them and the best beetroot varieties for the UK.
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Why grow beetroots in pots?
Beetroots are particularly easy to grow in pots but it is all about choosing the right container and the conditions, which I’ll go into in more detail with this in-depth guide to growing beetroot in pots. Beetroot seeds can be planted directly into a pot which gives you control of the area which the plant can cover. You can also use one pot to plant 4 -5 beet plants. There is something comforting in knowing that you have a supply of beetroot ready to be used in many ways, and having them grow in containers helps you to maximize space in your garden and control your harvest.
As you know from my other guides on growing vegetables in pots, I’m a big fan of container gardening. And I’ve taken many with me when moving between houses over the years, so not having to leave them behind is fabulous.
Try these other guides to growing in pots and containers
- Grow peas in pots
- Grow carrots in pots
- Grow rhubarb in pots
- Grow spinach in pots
- Grow courgettes in pots
- Growing onions in pots
- How to grow Asparagus in pots
- How to grow Beetroot in pots
- How to grow Coriander in pots
- How to grow Basil in pots
Now let’s get back to the vegetable in question. Beetroot.
Growing Beetroot in Containers Guide
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about growing beetroot in pots. From the best soil you need for growing beetroot, to where and when to plant beetroots, this guide has it covered.
The Quickest Way to Get Started Growing Beetroots
If you’re wanting to grow beetroot and have fast results, then the quickest way to get to harvesting beetroots is to start from a seedling. Of course, it needs to be the right time of year to buy them too!
You can buy beetroot plug plants from Suttons here – save yourself several weeks of germination time and get started right away! Buy beetroot plug plants here.
The Best Soil / Compost for Beetroot Growing
If you’ve been making your own compost or if you have great healthy soil in the garden then you’re likely covered, but if not, then the RIGHT potting compost is a great way to ensure that your beetroot plants get all of the nutrients they need to grow. Miracle-Gro All Purpose and Westland Multi-Purpose Compost with John Innes are both good choices. You can read more about composting in my beginner guide to composting here.
How to sow beetroot seeds
While you can start your beet plant seedlings in seedling trays it is always best to sow the seeds directly into the container you plan to grow them in. Transplanting any type of seedling can cause damage. You can also blunt the roots because the seedling trays are not deep enough.
Beetroot seeds look like small grains of cereal you might find in your kitchen. This is because the outer layer is a protective shell where there are several seeds inside.
To help with the germination of beetroot, it is best to soak the pods in warm water. Leave them in there for about 2-3 hours. This helps to open the pods up.
Fill the pot that you’re going to grow beetroot in with compost or soil.
Now poke 2.5 centimetres (one-inch) thick holes into the soil or compost (just use your index finger) and place two pods in each.
When it comes to placing them into the pot space the pods out around 7-8 centimetres (3 inches) apart.
This way, if one doesn’t sprout you have the other as backup.
Where to plant beetroot plants
Beetroot plants will thrive in sunlight, so make sure you place your containers in a sunny spot where they will get as much sunlight as possible. You also want to ensure that you keep the compost moist. They also need warmth so if it is still a little cold, you can keep them inside or if you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, then pop them in there.
When to plant beetroot plants
Ideally, you will want to look to plant your beetroots in spring. A great rule to follow is for it to have been at least 3 weeks since the last frost in your area. If you’re going to use succession planting (staggering the propagation of your vegetables to have an ongoing harvest), then you can plant beetroot until August. However, if it’s a really hot year and we’re seeing temperatures of more than about 26 Celsius, then that’s also a good time to stop too.
Spring is such a great time to get growing many vegetables, and beetroot is one of them and thrives in a traditional British spring.
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Beetroot Plant Care
Once you’ve planted your beetroot seeds you’ll want to be on top of some of the things you can do to help them thrive.
Watering requirements for growing beetroots in pots
After planting your beetroot seeds you will want to water them thoroughly. Then after placing them in a sunny spot in your garden or home, you need to water them daily. Keeping the compost moist. Not soggy. Not dry. Moist.
Feed & Fertilizer requirements for growing beetroots in pots
If you have great compost then your beetroot *should* be fine. However, all of us need a little help and I recommend the Miracle grow all-purpose feed as always a good option to consider for beetroot plants. Follow the instructions on the product, but you can also use the same plant food as you would for your tomato plants if you have them.
The best location for growing beetroots
The best location for growing beetroots is where the sun shines for as long as possible. A sunny spot in your garden or greenhouse will be perfect. This is a great reason for growing beetroot in pots, you can move them around to follow the sun!
Pests & Diseases to look out for when growing beetroot
Of course, like with any vegetables and plants you grow, there are pests and diseases to look out for. Here’s what to be aware of when growing beetroot in pots.
- Sparrows – Sparrows love beetroot leaves so this is one surprising pest that you do need to look out for. If you notice this is a problem, then you can place a net over your beetroot plant, or hang a CD on a string to reflect the sunlight and distract the birds.
- Yellow leaves – If you notice your beetroot plant leaves are turning yellow then this can be down to a mineral deficiency in your soil. It can also be the result of over or underwatering your plants. The easiest way to figure this out is to sort out the watering first, then look at the soil or compost.
- Aphids – Also known as whitefly and greenfly. These little insects look translucent and can be a big problem for many plants. Beetroot leaves are not usually attacked but occasionally they can be. Get a water spray and with a litre of water add a few drops of washing liquid and spray the leaves.
- Rodents – While they may not necessarily be a problem with potted plants, they can cause issues. Especially with the roots. You will notice if you have a rodent problem because of the evidence of digging and holes near or in your pots.
- Cercospora Leaf Spot – This is the most common fungal disease that you will notice with your beetroot plant. It appears as patchy spots on the foliage, eventually spreading across the whole plant. If the plant becomes infected, remove the leaves affected immediately. If you remove the leave in time the plant should still thrive, but if the whole plant is affected, then you will need to uproot the plant and get rid of all the plant matter.
What varieties of Beetroot to grow in the UK
There are a few different varieties of beetroots that grow well in containers. Here are my recommendations.
The best varieties of beetroots to grow in pots in the UK
First up let’s start with the varieties of beetroots that will thrive when grown in pots.
Boltardy – These beetroots have smooth skin and a deep red colour. They are rich in vitamin C. (and my absolute favourite beet variety)
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Crocus
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
Red Ace – An oval beetroot with dark red skin and a deep red colour when sliced into.
Buy Red Ace Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Globe 2 – A popular round beet and very much like what you visualise a beetroot to be and look like. They have crisp and dark crimson roots.
Buy Globe 2 Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy Globe 2 Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
Chiogga – An Italian beetroot with ball-shaped light red roots. When you slice into this beetroot you get ornamental rings of white and red. Absolutely glorious in salads
Buy Chiogga Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy Chiogga Beetroot Seeds from Crocus
Buy Chiogga Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
The best varieties of beetroot to grow in the ground
If you do decide to grow beetroot directly into the ground then here are some of the best varieties to choose from.
Boltardy – These beetroots have smooth skin and a deep red colour. They are rich in vitamin C.
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Crocus
Buy Boltardy Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
Burpee’s Golden – A superb, yellow-fleshed beetroot, that provides great colour in salads or pickles. Leaves can be cooked like spinach.
Buy Burpee’s Golden Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy Burpee’s Golden Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
F1 Pablo – Round and smooth-skinned roots have an attractive rich red colour and stand for a long period without becoming ‘woody’.
Buy F1 Pablo Beetroot Seeds from Amazon
Buy F1 Pablo Beetroot Seeds from Suttons
The best pots for growing beetroots
When it comes to choosing the best pots when looking to grow beetroot you do need to think of a larger than average-sized pot. You’ll want a depth of at least 25 centimetres (10 inches) to begin with as this helps to give the roots maximum space to develop. You will also want to look at a diameter of around 20 – 25 centimetres (8-10 inches) minimum.
You may need to move the pots to ensure that the beets are in the maximum sunlight and warmth, so using terracotta pots might not be advisable due to how heavy they can be.
Harvesting beetroot
One of the best things about growing your own vegetables is enjoying your hard work and harvesting them. However, you may not have the need for everything you harvest and will want to maximise it and prolong its life as best you can. Here are some things to consider when harvesting beetroot.
When to harvest beet
You can start to harvest the beetroot leaves whenever you like, depending on whether you like the young leaves or more mature leaves. They are great in salads and stir fry. And I actually like just eating them raw too.
Around 6-8 weeks after germination, your beetroot leaves can be ready to harvest. You will have lots of leafy greens on the top and even potentially the beetroot popping out of the ground.
How to harvest beetroot
You can harvest the leaves by simply snipping them away as and when you need them. It’s not going to damage the root vegetable. When it comes to harvesting the beetroots you will need to uproot them and shake off any compost or soil that is on them. So you’ll need enough of the stalk to grab the out of the ground, or gently use a hand fork to lever them out.
3 Tips for maximising and extending your beetroot harvest
Harvesting beetroot is really easy and because they are a root vegetable, they do have a long life. Here are some tips for maximising your beetroot harvest.
- Use the leaves as well as the beetroot in different dishes.
- Once harvested store the beetroot in a dark cool place after cleaning off excess dirt and snipping off the leaves.
- You can prepare beetroot by pickling it and keeping it in jars. – but I have a bunch of other ways to deal with beetroot – you can read about that here.
FAQs about growing beetroot
Got questions about growing beetroot in pots? Or want to know something specific about the beetroot growing in containers and we haven’t answered your questions? Check out our frequently asked questions about how to grow beetroot in pots below, or ask us yours in the comments.
Can you grow beetroots in containers?
Yes, you can it is really easy to grow beetroot in containers. You just need to ensure that you have the right container, you sow the seeds at the right time of the year and place the containers in a sunny spot.
How long do beetroots take to grow?
From the germination of the seeds, you should be able to harvest beetroots within 8 weeks.
How many beetroots per seed?
Each pod contains a few seeds for beetroot. You are best to sow two of these pods per hole in your chosen container, this will account for failure.
How many beets per container?
You will need to space out the seeds 7-8 centimetres (3 inches) apart within your container. The minimum diameter of the container that I recommend is 20 centimetres (8 inches( so you will get a few beets per pot. The bigger the pot, the more beets you can grow.
How deep do containers need to be to grow beetroot?
You will need a depth of at least 25 centimetres (10 inches) for your chosen beetroot growing container.
Do beetroots grow back each year?
No. Beetroot is an annual crop so once you harvest them you will need to plant new seeds the following year. You can leave the beets in the ground and harvest the leaves and spring greens, but the beetroot will become woody and inedible.
What are good companion plants for beetroot?
Beetroot is an excellent companion crop as it doesn’t take up too much space. You could grow it alongside broccoli, beans, cabbage, lettuce, onions and brassicas. Want to know more about companion planting? My guide is here.
Can I buy young beetroot plants?
Yes, you can! You will still need to maintain the beetroot in the same way with regular watering and plenty of sunlight. These beetroot plug plants are a great option to get started quickly.
Do you need a greenhouse to grow beetroot?
No, you don’t but they do thrive in sunny and warm spots in your garden or home. Beetroot is traditionally grown outdoors in the UK. A greenhouse is a great way to start the seedlings, but not essential. (Want a small greenhouse? My best buy guide is here) Planting in the late spring and leaving them in a sunny spot will be sufficient if you don’t have a greenhouse.
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How much space do beetroot plants need?
Beetroot doesn’t need much space at all! As long as you have space for your chosen container then you can grow beetroot.
Final Words on how to Grow Beetroot in Pots
Packed full of flavour and such an easy vegetable to grow, care for, harvest and make the most of, growing beetroots in pots is fast becoming a popular option. You can easily utilise a small space in your garden, giving beetroots plenty of sun and water to being them to life. Why not give growing beetroot in pots a go? I love them.
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