Just beet me :(

[inchworm]

Why can't I grow beets? I've tried 3 years now. I get greens and no bulb.

Thanks,
Inchworm

 

[Greenthumb18]

Why can't I grow beets? I've tried 3 years now. I get greens and no bulb.

Thanks,
Inchworm

Are you thinning them? Thats the only thing i could think of why your not getting the bulb.

 

[lesa]

I have the best luck growing beets in a hill. The root (beet) really needs soft dirt to develop...I can't imagine not getting any beet, the worst I did was small and misshapen due to my hard soil. I wonder if your soil of too fertile? Most root veggies don't want too much... Don't give up- fresh beets from the garden are wonderful! I would experiment with a different location next time. It is not too late to try again- beets are a cold weather crop and will grow into the fall.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I planted mine late last year and got almost nothing, bulbs or greens. I planted them as soon as I could work the ground this spring and they did great. The cool wet Spring may have had more to do with it than when I planted, but I think planting early helped. I fed them with 13-13-13 fertilized when the bulb started to form. I also thinned them severely and enjoyed the baby beet greens. We just canned 8 pints of beet greens Thursday and 13 pints of beets yesterday, Friday so I think they did very well.

 

[Ron]

Are you sure you are planting the right kind of beet seed? There are some beets grown only for the greens. Not very likely that you have those, but always possible.

 

[inchworm]

I've been planting Detroit Dark Reds in April. I do SFG in a raised bed which is back-filled with something similar to "Mel's Mix." The soil is very loose and dark. Could it be too fertile or a wrong pH? I also have not been able to grow half-long carrots, though radishes are ok. Maybe I should take the soil to be tested...

Inchworm

 

[HiDelight]

I used to have this same problem and was told if there is too much nitrogen in the soil the plant will put all the energy into the leaves and not make a beet ..

not sure how I remedied this because I am not at all scientific about my soil ...just kept planting and eventually I got beets ..

I can not grow big ones mine are bout the size of golf balls at tops ..but very sweet and tasty now

I do empathise I am just not sure how I changed my soil ..I add home made compost every year ..but no fert at all other than that

what about calling your local master gardener and asking ..they are so wonderful about these questions and how they pertain to where you live...I have used and abused ours so much sometimes I think I should change my name when I call with my sometimes silly questions

someone told me some you now can just email questions in ..now that is an awesome service!

good luck to you I hope you get some beets! In the mean time maybe eat and enjoy those greens anyway? ..you can plant again and again they grown really well right into the cold weather

 

[simple life]

Funny but I had that last year, so this year I got an earlier start thinking that may be the problem.
We have had alot more rain than usual this year for our area so I don't know if that will affect their growth.
I have seen them finally picking up some growth the last week or so , they were going so slow for a while.
Now I am wondering if there is anything below the surface, I am going to go check when the rain lets up.
I do think the soil being too rich may be a problem since I have heard that over and over again regarding other vegetables.
I planted several types of beets this year so hopefully something works out.