Why Do Multiple Beetroot Seedlings Come Up From One Seed?

Sowing one beetroot "seed" and watching two, three, or even four seedlings emerge from a single point in the row is not a problem or an anomaly — it is the expected result of a biological quirk of the beetroot plant. What is sold and sown as a beetroot seed is technically a dried fruit — a corky, multi-chambered structure containing two to four individual seeds. This is known as a multigerm seed, and most traditional beetroot varieties produce them. The multiple seedlings need to be thinned to leave one per sowing position, or they will compete with each other and produce small, mis-shapen roots.

How to thin correctly

Thin beetroot in two stages. First thinning: when seedlings are 2–3 cm tall, thin each cluster to the two strongest seedlings by pinching off weaker ones at soil level (do not pull — pulling disturbs the roots of the seedlings you are keeping). Second thinning: when seedlings are 5–7 cm tall, thin again to leave one per position. At this second thinning, the removed seedlings are small enough to eat as micro-salad — the leaves are edible and have a mild beetroot flavour. Final spacing: 10 cm between plants for small beetroot, 15 cm for larger roots.

The thinnings are edible

Beetroot thinnings are a bonus harvest. The small seedlings pulled at the second thinning (5–7 cm, with the first true leaves) have edible leaves with a mild, earthy-sweet flavour. Add them to salads or use as a garnish. The tiny root at this stage is barely formed but also edible. Many beetroot growers intentionally sow more densely than needed and harvest thinnings progressively as a salad leaf crop from early summer.

Monogerm varieties — one seedling per seed

Modern monogerm beetroot varieties (such as Moneta, Monodet, or the variety simply labelled "monogerm" by suppliers) have been bred to produce only one seed per fruit. Each pellet contains a single seed and produces one seedling — no thinning required beyond normal spacing. Monogerm types are particularly useful for large plantings where thinning is time-consuming, or for beginner growers who may miss thinning. The roots produced are identical in quality to multigerm varieties.