Beets are easy and quick to grow. This vegetable can be sown over a long period, from March to June. Beets roots can be red, yellow or white, and round, cylindrical or long, The green and red is attractive and edible. Organic and heirloom cultivars are available,

Ideal Site – Beets prefer a sunny open location – useful in costal gardens – but will are not tolerate an acid soil. The round ball cultivars do well in containers. No soil preparation is necessary on fertile soil or on soil improved by  a previous crop. A low fertility soil improver should be used to improve light or heavy soils.. The ideal pH for beets is 6.5-7.5

Seed to Harvest- 7-13 weeks.

Cultivation- When starting beets indoors sow in late February or early March. Sow in cell packs , 2 seeds per cell. Thin,  leaving  the strongest seedlings for multi-sowing. Allow 4 to 5 plants per module. Use small rooted cultivars. Harden off before planting, making sure there are 3-4 true leaves before planting outside.

When sowing directly outdoors sow from March or April until late June or 2 weeks later in milder climates. To grow beets for storage use globe or long cultivars, sowing in May and June.

Spacing- can be adjusted to some extent; depending on the cultivar and size of root required.

Rows Early and quick beets 4 x 9in (10 x 23cm) . Main crops 3 x 12 in (7.5 x 30cm). Mini Beets 1 x 6 in (2.5 cm x 15 cm). Mult-sown 9 x 9 in (22 x 22cm)

Plant Care- Beets are one of the most care free crops to grow. Water often in hot dry weather or the roots will become woody.

Harvesting- Harvest roots as soon as they are the right size for the cultivars grown. Beets grown for storage, harvest in autumn. Root can be left in soil over winter but may become rough and eaten by slugs. Twist rather than cut tops off. Store beets in a cool dark, moist place such as a box of moist sand.

Problems- Beets are usually problem free but if left in the ground over winter can be eaten by slugs.

Nutrients- Beets are a good source of folate, manganese, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, dietary fiber, zinc, copper, vitamin A, and tryptophan. The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets' potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies.