Beetroot can usually be sown in Mid-April, however, using a cloche, that has already warmed the soil, beetroot can be planted 3 or 4 weeks earlier at the beginning of March. Take care that any snow fall does not damage your cloche if you grow this early in the season.

Make sure that you always soak beetroot seeds in water fir a couple of hours before you sow them, this removes the chemicals that block the seeds growth and softens them up ready for germination.

Beetroot should be planted about 25mm deep and about 300mm apart. Carefully water the ground if it is dry, but make sure you do not wash the seeds away.

The seedlings will appear in around 10-15 days depending on the variety. At this stage the cloche has a great advantage as they protect the tender seedlings from birds which seem to love them so much.

Thin out the weakest of the seedlings and maintain their watering until the bulb grows to the desired size.

If you intend to store your beetroot you can harden off the skin after harvesting by laying them out in an open ended cloche. Make sure that you do not lay them on the ground as they will rot. Turn them every day to make sure the skins are evenly hardened.