How to grow beetroot in a raised bed

Beetroot gives you two crops in one — sweet roots and tender leaves you can use like silverbeet. The deep, loose mix of a raised bed grows lovely round roots.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 8–10 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 35 cm or 41 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 8–12 weeks

When to plant: Beetroot grows nearly year-round in mild areas, best in the cooler months. Sow directly where it's to grow. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Sow seed into loose, stone-free mix. Each knobbly 'seed' is a cluster, so thin the seedlings to give each root room to swell into a good round shape.

Watering and feeding: Keep moisture even — irregular watering makes roots woody or split. Water the soil in the morning.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, cutworms and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are leaf spot and downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Onions, brassicas and lettuce are good neighbours. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pull when the roots are golf-ball to tennis-ball size — bigger ones can turn woody. The young leaves are great steamed or in salads.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.