I have decided to start a category on how i grow my veggies – Not necessarily how the gardening books tell you….
Beetroot is a relativity easy veg to grow {she says after 2 failed attempts}
I sow my beetroot seeds direct around April/ May, Spacing them around 6ins in rows a foot apart. I don’t think its necessary to sow any closer and then thin  out {which is what most books tell you}
They can be sown earlier [ March/April} if you cover them with a cloche or small polytunnel..
Don’t do as i did and chuck compost on the bed 3 weeks before sowing { failed attemped 1} They prefer ground that has been manured the previous year..
Oh, and remember to soak the seeds for an hour or two beforehand to aid the germination.. {failed attempt no 2}  They can be erratic at germinating, so be prepared to fill any gaps when they finally germinate.. Which  takes around two weeks …
Water the bed well before sowing..They will definitely appreciate a thorough watering if the conditions become dry. This will encourage them to grow quickly.. Very little weeding should be required because the foliage of beetroot is dense enough to keep most weeds at bay. I usually water once a week unless its exceptionally dry.
Beets are usually ready for harvesting around 10 weeks after sowing at this time you can use the beet leaves in salads while their still young..
When harvesting beets never cut the foliage off.. Twist the stems an inch or two above the bulb to prevent bleeding.  A tip also.. When cooking beets put a little vinegar in the water to help prevent bleeding, it doesn’t stop it completely but helps..

Oh and one last thing.

Most gardening books tell you beetroot is unsuitable for transplanting after sowing in pots – not true. I started a few in pots as beetroot is notorious for bad germination- after sowing direct and having a poor success rate. I thought I would give it a try to fill the gaps and it worked out fine
There you have it – How I grow my beets

Pests

Beetroot is relatively free from pests and diseases (apart from birds at the seedling stage) If birds are a problem then cover the bed with netting..

Disease
Symptoms
Mangold Flies (Beet Leaf Miner)
Leaves with light brown blisters. The leaves turn completely brown and fall off. Growth is stunted.
Swift Moth
This is a root problem and may not be clearly seen at first. The plants look unhealthy, and growth is stunted. No obvious leaf damage.
Rust
Slightly raised round spots on the underside of the leaves. The spots are rust coloured (browny-red).
Aphids
Leaves curl and new shoots are distorted