Are you just thinking about growing beets in containers? Go for it because this fast-growing species is suitable for container gardening.
If this is your first time, we will lead your path. Our guide has everything you need to know about beet cultivation in containers. Let’s follow us!
Growing Beets In Containers
Beets are among the easiest vegetables to grow. There are five steps in the process of planting them in containers. Each step has some requirements, so please follow them to ensure a successful crop.
Step 1: Prepare the containers
To encourage faster growth, you can start many vegetable crops in smaller containers and transplant them later. However, beets don’t like moving around, and you should grow them in permanent containers.
Add a layer of tiny gravel or rocks to the empty container’s bottom. This layer should be at least one to two inches thick and work as a barrier to support soil drainage.
Although rocks can damage beetroots, rocks beneath the soil benefit the root system by keeping the soil from becoming soggy.
We recommend using small lava pebbles since they offer good moisture regulation and aeration and slowly decompose into plant-useable elements.
As usual, add the potting soil to the empty containers. Don’t forget to remove the rocks and solid clumps from the soil’s main section.
Step 2: Sow the seeds
Beet seeds have a hard seed coat, causing slow germination. Hence, soak the seeds in dechlorinated water overnight to accelerate the sprouting process.
Plant the beet seeds two to three inches apart and 1/2 inch deep. Then, sow them in containers in all directions and leave one inch between the container’s rim and the outer seeds.
Cover your beet seeds and keep the planting soil moist for the seeds to germinate within a few weeks.
Step 3: Thin the seedlings
Thin out your beet seedlings once most beet seeds have started germinating. Make sure they sit three inches apart from one another.
Try cutting ugly seedlings at the base with scissors while thinning the seedlings. Be careful at this step because the remaining beets may suffer root injury when pulled.
Step 4: Care for the plants
Of course, you must care for your beets during the process. But, focus more on this stage as your seedlings are still weak and on their way to forming fruits. There are some things to keep in mind, such as:
- Watering
Water frequently and evenly so your plants won’t go sinewy and hard. The general rule is to keep the topsoil slightly damp. Once you feel it dry, water your plants. This tip can help avoid both underwatering and overwatering.
- Temperature
Remember that the ideal temperature range for beets to grow in containers is between 50 and 85°F. However, you can cultivate them in temperatures as low as 40°F or as high as 90°F if your local weather doesn’t support the optimal range.
- Fertilizer
Beets love time-based or compost fertilizers. So choose a fertilizer that is rich in potassium and phosphorus but low on nitrogen for your beets because they are root vegetables.
Change to a water-soluble solution as soon as your beetroot plants are three to four weeks old and healthy.
Add liquid fertilizer as early as two weeks after planting if you are not applying slow-release fertilizer with a 5-10-10 NPK ratio. When your plants lack nitrogen, adjust the NPK ratio to 20-20-20.
- Pests
You don’t need to worry too much about diseases and pests while growing beets in containers because you may prevent most of the issues by not overwatering and refraining from overhead irrigation.
Scab and root rot are common problems. Although pests like leaf miners and aphids can hinder the development of foliage, you can readily handle them by taking quick action.
Step 5: Harvest
After sprouting, beets typically need six to nine weeks for harvest. You can pick your vegetables at this time and use them for salads.
When the beet leaves are a few inches in length, you may cut the outer leaves and let the tender inside foliage keep growing.
Best Beet Varieties To Grow In Containers
Beets come in wide varieties. However, planting beets in containers works best with two primary beet cultivars.
Red Ace hybrid
This type of beet is an excellent garden vegetable because of its shallow, sweet roots. It can flourish in colder climates.
Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge beets are ideal if you live in a region with a lot of direct sunlight. Even though this variety yields smaller fruits, the sweet flavor remains.
Choose the variety of beets you want to cultivate while learning how to cultivate beets in containers so that you may save the garden area.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How deep of soil do beets need?
Beets should grow in containers at least ten inches deep for optimum development, which will enable the root to expand unrestrictedly and properly.
2. Which month is the best time to grow beets?
It would be best to grow beets in the spring, three to two weeks before the final frost. You can sow the seeds every three to four weeks until the temperature reaches 80°F.
3. Can I grow beets in a five-gallon bucket?
Yes. The same gardening guidelines apply for growing this root vegetable in a five-gallon bucket.
Sow the beet seeds four to six inches apart, 1/4 inch deep. If the gallon’s hole is narrow, space them around three inches apart.
Since a give-gallon bucket has a limited diameter, you might need to thin the plants after they are 2 inches tall.
Conclusion
With our guide, you can grow container beets successfully all season long. If you have tried it and had some interesting experience, please share it with us, whether it’s a success or failure. Learning from what we did is how we can grow.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. For any further information, feel free to ask. Thank you for reading!
