Boltardy
Beetroot in the US
Boltardy is one of those classic maincrop varieties, a real workhorse on the plot. Starting it undercover helps ensure a reliable crop of smooth, round, deep red roots, chuffed with this one every year.
Sow window for Beetroot generally, zone 6.
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How to grow it
Getting your beetroot started is usually best direct in the ground. Those seeds are actually little clusters, so you'll often get a few sprouts from each one, which means thinning is key later on. You're aiming to sow them about an inch (2.5 cm) deep, spaced roughly four inches (10 cm) apart. The best time to get them in varies quite a bit by your USDA zone; for instance, folks in Zone 3 might start in May, while those in Zone 9 can be sowing from January. Keep the soil consistently moist, and you'll see those little seedlings popping up soon enough. Sow a few every couple of weeks for a steady harvest, like I say.
Once your beetroot seedlings are up and growing, the most important thing is thinning them out. Because those seeds are clusters, you'll often have several plants growing too close together. Snip out the weaker ones, leaving the strongest seedling every four inches (10 cm) or so. Don't waste the thinnings either, they're lovely in a salad. You can grow them in containers too, mind, just make sure they've got enough room to swell up.
More Beetroot varieties
Track your Beetroot from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
