Sowing Directions for Sugar Beet and Red Clover
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Tyler Henricks
Posted on: March 21, 2002

I bought red clover seeds and sugar beet seeds a few months ago. I couldn’t find the growing instructions. Could you please tell me the best time or temperature to plant them as well as the required spacing.

Both can be sown directly in the garden in May. Plant the beets in rows at least 2 feet apart, with seeds spaced 1-2 per inch within the row. Plant them 1/2 inch deep. When the seedlings are up, thin to a spacing of 3-4 inches. The beets are harvested in the fall after the frosts because the cold temperatures enhance the sugar content. The foliage is the most tasty at that time too. Directions for making sugar from the beets are on our website in the "Richters InfoCentre" section (one of the "InfoSheets").

Red clover can be sown in rows or broadcast over an area. If in rows, so 1/4 inch deep, in rows about 1 foot apart and spaced 3-5 seeds per inch. If broadcast, you need 1 gram for every 10 square feet. There is no need to thin the seedlings. The flowers are harvested in the summer and fall months.

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