How to grow beetroot. Beetroot is a very easy to grow vegetable that suffers from very few pests and diseases. The trick to growing the best beetroot is a nice loose, fertile soil with plenty of well rotted organic matter added. Fresh, homegrown beetroot is absolutely delicious roasted in a little olive oil with a sprinkle of sea salt to bring out the flavour. Forget pickled or (worse) boiled beetroot, cut into quarters and roast it, you'll never look back. Although not one of the more glamorous garden vegetables, beetroot has recently gained in popularity and has even been tagged a 'Super Food' by health experts - one good reason why beetroot is attracting the attention of kitchen gardeners once again. Another is the fact that not much gets wasted when growing beetroot; along with the root - which can be harvested immaturely as tender 'baby beets' - the leaves can be eaten when young, just like spinach. The video version of this article is at the bottom of this page. Where to grow: The ideal soil is medium to light which hasn't been recently manured - this can cause misshapen roots. The soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline (PH 6.5 to 7.5) although it is tolerant of most normal conditions. When to grow: Sow beetroot seed from March to July. For early crops of small, delicious tender vegetables sow a bolt resistant variety like Pablo under cloches in early March.
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