How to Plant Beet Seeds

Beets are durable vegetables for home gardens because they have sturdy stalks, they have a distinctive taste and almost all of the plant can be eaten. But getting new seeds to grow can be a challenge, mostly because of the tough, thick husk that surrounds the seeds. If you want to give your beet seeds the best chances at rapid growth, use this method to plant them.

Things You'll Need

• Mineral-Rich Garden Soil
• Beet Seeds
• Wax Paper
• Rolling Pin
• Water
• Small Garden Shovel
• Liquid Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Make sure your garden is ready to receive fresh seeds. The ideal soil environment for beets is very moist, cool and rich with nutrients. If your soil is dry or nutrient-deficient, mix in mineral-rich garden soil and fertilizer from your local nursery. Be sure to choose a planting location that will be shaded.

2. Prepare your beet seeds by breaking the husks. Lay out a single layer of beet seeds on a big piece of wax paper. Put another piece of wax paper on top and then gently roll over all of the layers with a rolling pin. The rolling motion should crack the husks, making it easier for roots to emerge and take hold in the soil.

3. Dig your planting holes with a hand-sized garden spade. Make sure the hole for each seed is about one and a half inches deep and that all seed holes are about three inches apart. If you're planting multiple rows of beets, put at least a foot of empty soil space in between each row.

4. Drop a cracked seed into each hole. Cover each hole with soil. Water the entire bed thoroughly.

5. When the seeds begin to sprout, start feeding the beets once a month with liquid fertilizer. Weed the bed at least twice a week to ensure that the beets have plenty of room to grow.

Tips & Warnings

• Beets need to be watered about once a week until they're harvested.

• Beets are usually harvested when they're about an inch in diameter.