some interesting beet germination data

[nctomatoman]

This year I've decided to try something. I thick planted beets, and just today, transplanted them into plug flats, one seedling per plug. Why? Last year, my first experience with beets, was frustrating. The beet seeds are not monogerm, so you get several plants per seed - and once the weeds come in, thinning and weeding is not much fun. So we shall see - once my bed is prepared, I can get well started seedlings reasonable distances apart. If it doesn't work out and I get ugly beets or poor development, we will have plenty of nice beet greens to eat.

Data wise, I got an idea of seedlings per planting. I planted 15 seeds per cell - my beet seedling total were 13, 17, 18, 19, 17, 14, and 17. So not too many in excess of the 15 planted, and assuming a few seeds didn't germinate, may come out to about 1.5 plants per seed planted.

I am growing Touchstone Gold, Ruby Queen, Burpee Golden, and Chioggia.