growing beetroot

jb5

I have been unable to grow beetroot for the last few years as the leaves are always eaten when they first come up.it is not birds, snails or slugs so any ideas and any possible solutions 

Blue Onion

Leaf miners?

josusa47

Last year I had a successful first attempt at growing beetroot.  I sowed the seed in paper pots of coir and put them in a cold frame.  When they got to four leaves, I left the frame open during the day, and after a few days,left it open day and night.  At this stage a few got eaten.  I planted them in raised beds and watered them on dry days with diluted nettle tea.  Nearly all of them grew.  Do you sow straight into the soil?  Maybe they would do better with a bit of mollycoddling to get started.

raisingirl

are you certain it's not pigeons? I can't sow beetroot direct - it never sees the light of day. I think the voles eat the seed. I sow it in modules and grow it on to at least 3 inches tall before planting out.