![]() ![]() These last two points will not apply to most people, but I’ve included them to be thorough. Get your soil pH tested, and if it’s anywhere below 5.5, you will need to add some lime to your soil to balance the pH so it’s closer to neutral (close to 7). Beets can also get misshapen and small due growing in soil that is too acidic. If this is the case, it’s too late for your beets now, but before you plant the next crop, you can add one single application of Borax (a ratio of 1 teaspoon dissolved in 1 gallon of water) to your soil or potting mix. One more thing to note: if your beets are deformed and have black spots, it’s possible that you have a boron deficiency. Most people are advised to directly sow beets, but I have transplanted them with success just make sure to be gentle when transplanting and don’t let the seedlings get too large before doing it (2 to 4 sets of true leaves is enough). Other things to consider are how compacted your soil is (beets prefer fluffy, light soil) and if you damaged the roots during transplanting. If this is the case for you, the good news is that beet leaves are edible and very tender and delicious. Do you have beautiful, lush beet plants loaded with healthy leaves, but down at the soil is just a tiny runt of a beet? You might have too much nitrogen in your soil, which promotes leaf and stem growth, or you might not have enough phosphorus, which is important for root development. ![]() The amount and ratio of nutrients in your soil can also impact the size of your beets. Note that you will have to space out each clump of beets a little more, at least 5-8 inches between each clump of 3-4 beets. It seems like they’d be overcrowded, but they actually end up pushing each other away and you end up with a clump of full-sized beets. I talk about it more in my article on planting beets in containers but briefly, it means you sow multiple seeds in one hole, started indoors or directly sown, and then you thin to around 3-4 beet plants in each spot. Lately, I’ve been trying Charles Dowding’s approach of multisowing beets and transplanting them. ![]() Don’t forget that each “seed” is actually a dried package of several seeds, so thin out your beets after they’ve sprouted. Ideally, you want single beets spaced at least 4 inches apart. If you plant your beets too close, they will grow into each other, compacting the soil between them and causing them to be constrained, stunting growth. Beets need enough space to form a large, round bulb. What now? The two most common reasons for small beets are overcrowding and a lack or imbalance of soil nutrients. Maybe your beets are already getting plenty of sun. One of the advantages of growing beets in containers is that you can easily move your beets to a sunnier location. In this situation, there isn’t much you can do, but you can wait a few weeks after their days to maturity is up and see if they’re still growing (you can gently brush off the top layer of soil to get a better look at your beets). If they’re getting less than five hours of full sun per day, expect even slower growth. Beets tolerate partial shade, but will mature more slowly. Beets are a cool weather crop, but really do best in full sun. I’m assuming you’re growing a normal-sized beet variety (there are some true “baby beet” varieties), and you’ve already waited until after the “days to maturity” on your seed packet to allow your beets enough time to grow and mature.įirst, consider how much sun your beets are getting. There are many factors that affect the size and shape of your beets. Ensure your soil or potting mix is fluffy and not compacted. ![]() Fertilize your beets with fertilizers with higher phosphorus (the P in NPK) and less nitrogen (N). ![]()
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