To grow beetroot in England, sow the seed direct into a sunny bed from April to July, 10 cm apart in rows 30 cm apart, once the soil has warmed to at least 7°C. Keep it evenly watered and the RHS says the roots are usually ready in 50 to 60 days, at their best when 4 to 7 cm across.
Beetroot is one of the most reliable crops for a raised bed. It is quick, fits neat rows and can be sown several times through the summer. This guide covers timing, sowing, spacing, how many fit a bed, care, harvest and problems.
Beetroot quick facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sow direct | April to July (Sowstory); late March or April to July once soil is at least 7°C (RHS) |
| Sowing depth | 2.5 cm (RHS); 1 cm (Gardeners' World) |
| Spacing | 10 cm apart in rows 30 cm apart |
| Sun | At least six hours of direct sun |
| Ready to eat | Usually 50–60 days (RHS); best at 4–7 cm across |
| Time in the bed | Sowstory reserves about 16 weeks per sowing |
| Harvest season | June to October (Kings Seeds, for 'Boltardy') |
| In a 1.2 × 2.4 m bed | About 96 beetroot in four rows |
When to sow beetroot
Sowstory plans beetroot as an outdoor direct sowing from April to July. The RHS gives late March or April to July, once the soil is at least 7°C, and Gardeners' World mid-April to late June. Kings Seeds lists March for 'Boltardy', but only with protection.
The difference comes down to cold. The RHS says beetroot can bolt (run to flower and stop forming a good root) after sowing in very cool conditions, as well as in hot, dry weather. If you want to start in early March under a cloche or fleece, Gardeners' World recommends a bolt-resistant variety such as 'Boltardy', 'Kestrel' or 'Red Ace'. 'Boltardy' holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Sowstory's months are England-wide; in colder parts of England, and on high ground, the soil warms later, so an April sowing is safer than March. Beetroot is on our lists of what to sow in April, May, June and July.
Where to grow beetroot
Give beetroot a sunny spot: Sowstory plans it for parts of the bed with at least six hours of direct sun, and the RHS recommends sunny, fertile soil. It has no special depth needs, so it suits shallower beds that are too thin for long carrots or first early potatoes. If you are filling a new bed, our guide to raised bed soil explains what to put in it. Soil that holds moisture well makes it easier to give beetroot the even watering it needs.
How to sow beetroot
Soak the seed
Each beetroot "seed" is really a corky cluster holding several seeds. The RHS suggests soaking the clusters in warm water for about an hour before sowing.
Sow in rows
Make drills 30 cm apart along the bed. Sources differ on depth: the RHS sows 2.5 cm deep, Gardeners' World uses 1 cm drills. Either works; pick one and keep the soil moist until the seedlings appear. Place a cluster every 10 cm.
Thin to one plant
Because each cluster can give several seedlings, thin them to one every 10 cm once they are large enough to handle.
Or start in modules
The RHS also describes sowing in modules: one cluster per cell, thinned to one seedling, or up to four seeds per cell left unthinned. Plant multi-seeded clumps out whole about 15 cm apart without splitting them, and single plugs 10 cm apart. Clumps give several smaller roots growing together.
Beetroot spacing in a raised bed
Sowstory plans beetroot 10 cm apart in rows 30 cm apart, the figures given by both the RHS and Kings Seeds. In a 1.2 × 2.4 m bed (about 4 × 8 ft) with rows along the length, that is four rows of about 24: about 96 beetroot if you filled the bed. Sowstory plans up to four rows of beetroot per bed, and each metre of row holds about ten roots.
Beetroot foliage is short (Kings Seeds gives about 45 cm for 'Boltardy'), so it does not shade its neighbours and can sit towards the sunny side of the bed. The vegetable spacing chart and raised bed layout guide show how it fits with other crops. Sowstory sets no minimum soil depth for beetroot.
Sowstory reserves about 16 weeks of space for each sowing. That is longer than the 50–60 days to first roots, because it covers getting the row established and pulling roots over several weeks. A short row sown every few weeks gives a steadier supply than one long row.
Sowing beetroot in succession
Because Sowstory's window runs from April to July and each sowing holds its row for about 16 weeks, you can stagger short rows rather than sowing everything at once:
| Sowing | Row reserved until about | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| April | Late July | Use a bolt-resistant variety if the spring is cold |
| May | Late August | Usually the easiest month to get a good start |
| June | Late September | Water well in dry spells to avoid bolting |
| July | Late October | The last sowing in Sowstory's window |
The "reserved until" dates are Sowstory's planning allowance, not a promise of when the roots will be ready; the RHS's 50–60 days means you will usually start pulling well before then.
An example mixed bed
Beetroot rarely gets a whole bed to itself. Here is one way to share a 1.2 × 2.4 m bed using Sowstory's row spacings, with rows along the 2.4 m length:
| Position (north to south) | Crop | Width used | Rough count along 2.4 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| North side | Onion sets, one row | 25 cm | about 24 sets |
| Middle | Beetroot, one row | 30 cm | about 24 roots |
| South side | Carrots, two rows | 2 × 20 cm | about 48 per row |
That uses 95 cm of the 1.2 m width and leaves room for a row of spring onions or salad. These are simple estimates (row length divided by spacing); a layout that allows for the bed edges may fit slightly fewer.
If you would rather not work out rows and sowing dates by hand, Sowstory lays out your bed to scale, tells you how many rows fit and gives a month-by-month timing plan for England. It is coming soon to the App Store, and your first bed plan is free.
Caring for beetroot
- Water evenly. The RHS says uneven watering makes roots split, and too little water makes them woody. Water steadily through dry spells rather than in occasional floods.
- Weed. Keep the rows clear while the seedlings are small.
- Thin on time. Crowded clusters give misshapen, small roots.
Harvesting beetroot
The RHS says beetroot is usually ready 50 to 60 days after sowing and is best when the roots are 4 to 7 cm across. Pull alternate roots as they reach size, which gives the remaining ones room to swell. Kings Seeds gives a harvest season of June to October for 'Boltardy'.
Common beetroot problems
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bolting | Very cool sowing, or hot, dry weather | Sow later or under cover with a bolt-resistant variety; water in dry spells |
| Split roots | Uneven watering | Water regularly and evenly |
| Woody roots | Lack of water | Water through dry spells |
| Slow or patchy start | Soil colder than 7°C at sowing | Wait for the soil to warm, or sow in modules |
What Sowstory plans for beetroot, and what it does not
- Round, outdoor, direct-sown beetroot. Sowstory's profile is a round 'Boltardy'-type root sown straight into the bed. It does not plan sowings under cover in February or March, or clumps of baby beetroot raised in modules.
- England-wide months. The April to July window is the same for all of England; it is not adjusted for your postcode, so check that the soil has warmed before an early sowing.
- Planning spacing. The 10 cm and 30 cm figures are planning allowances from published guidance. Varieties differ, so check the packet as well.
Beetroot and crop rotation
The RHS puts beetroot in the root group with carrots, parsnips, celery, celeriac, Florence fennel and parsley. Moving the group to a different bed each year helps reduce soil-borne problems, though it does not guarantee prevention. Sowstory plans one season at a time and does not plan rotation across years. For another crop from the same group, see how to grow carrots.
Sources
- RHS: How to grow beetroot
- Gardeners' World: How to grow beetroot
- Kings Seeds: Beetroot Boltardy
- RHS: Crop rotation
- Sowstory knowledge base, release v1.4