How to Grow Beetroot in the UK

How to Grow Beetroot in the UK: Complete Growing Guide

Beetroot is a versatile and rewarding vegetable to grow in the UK, offering sweet, earthy roots perfect for salads, roasting, or pickling. Easy to grow and tolerant of most conditions, beetroot can be sown from spring through summer for harvests from early summer to late autumn.

Not sure when to sow? See our When to Plant Beetroot UK →

Quick Growing Facts

Sowing Time: March to July
Harvest Time: June to November
Growing Time: 10-16 weeks
Difficulty: Easy
Position: Full sun to partial shade

When to Sow Beetroot

Beetroot can be sown successionally for continuous harvests:

Early sowings: March-April under cloches or fleece for early summer harvest
Main sowings: April-July outdoors for summer and autumn harvest
Succession sowing: Sow every 3-4 weeks for continuous supply
Avoid early bolting: Use bolt-resistant varieties for sowings before May

Soil Preparation

Beetroot prefers light, well-drained soil but tolerates most conditions:

Soil type: Light, sandy soil ideal; tolerates heavier soils if well-drained
Remove stones: Clear stones for smooth, well-shaped roots
Avoid fresh manure: Use soil manured for a previous crop to prevent forking
pH level: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.5-7.0)
Rake fine: Create a fine, level seedbed

How to Sow Beetroot

Direct Sowing (recommended):

Create drills: Make drills 2.5cm (1 inch) deep, 30cm (12 inches) apart
Sow seeds: Sow seeds 10cm (4 inches) apart along the drill
Cover and firm: Cover with soil and firm gently
Water well: Water thoroughly after sowing
Germination: Seeds germinate in 7-14 days

Module Sowing (for early crops):

Sow 2-3 seeds per module in March-April
Thin to strongest seedling when large enough to handle
Transplant carefully when 5cm (2 inches) tall
Space 10cm (4 inches) apart in rows 30cm (12 inches) apart

💡 Top Tip

Each beetroot 'seed' is actually a cluster of 2-4 seeds, so multiple seedlings will emerge from each sowing position. Thin to the strongest seedling to allow proper root development.

Thinning Seedlings

Thin when seedlings are 2-3cm (1 inch) tall
Leave the strongest seedling at each position
Final spacing: 10cm (4 inches) between plants
Water before thinning to make the task easier
Thinnings can be used as baby salad leaves

Ongoing Care

Watering: Water regularly during dry spells to prevent woody roots; aim for consistent moisture
Weeding: Keep weed-free, especially when young; use a hoe carefully
Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Feeding: Generally no feeding needed; avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers which promote leaf growth over roots

Common Problems

Bolting: Plants run to seed prematurely. Use bolt-resistant varieties for early sowings and ensure consistent watering.

Leaf miner: White or brown blotches on leaves. Remove affected leaves; doesn't usually affect root quality.

Woody roots: Caused by slow growth due to drought or poor soil. Water regularly and improve soil structure.

Poor germination: Soak seeds overnight before sowing to improve germination rates.

Harvesting Beetroot

Baby beets: Harvest when golf-ball sized (about 10 weeks) for tender, sweet roots
Standard size: Harvest when tennis-ball sized (12-16 weeks) for main crop
Don't leave too long: Roots become woody if left to grow too large
Twist off leaves: Twist (don't cut) leaves 5cm (2 inches) above the root to prevent bleeding
Lift carefully: Use a fork to loosen soil, then lift gently

Storage

Fresh: Store unwashed in plastic bags in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks
In sand: Twist off foliage and store roots in boxes of damp sand in a cool, frost-free place for several months
Freezing: Cook, peel, slice or dice, then freeze for up to 6 months
Pickling: Pickle cooked beetroot in vinegar for long-term storage
Leaves: Young leaves can be eaten like spinach