Beetroot need well rotted manure in with the compost.

would wormery compost do the trick do you think? or do you think it's too late now?

Just how compacted was your soil when you put the compost on it? And how thick was the compost layer?

And how raw was it, and how much dry material, compared to green material? It looks like the compost was too nitrogen deficient, and took that away from the beets and salad. I'm surprised theat the alliums aren't suffering, but you may not know until harvest--if you mean onions and garlic--or until next year's bloom--if you mean the ornamental species.

Compost was shop bought as I unfortunately don't have enough room, or a willing hubby, for a compost bin...something to do with the stinky mess he had to move last time I tried large scale composting!!!!! Still, I bought organic, vegetable compost and layered it about 2 - 3 inches thick. The soil underneath wasn't too compacted as it had been planted with broad beans and peas last year so I was hoping that would provide all the nitrogen the beets would have needed. The onions came out fine, being japanese overwintered they've already been harvested and they were all a good size. The garlic is still doing well but I haven't pulled that yet, probably gonna leave it until mid August, after my hols. Should I try feeding the beets now?

I doubt that there is anything you can do that will help the beets now. I've also just spotted that you used a weed blanket... this means that the compost is not able to rot down into the soil, which it needs to do. Once you have harvested your crop I suggest you remove the compost, remove the weed barrier and then follow the advice from this website... http://bit.ly/pdQN89

If you have a very weedy area you can use the weed barrier but not grow any crops whilst it is there. There are lots of good books on no-dig veggie growing in fact we have one from the author of the website above.

No, the weed blanket went over the top of the compost as per instructions in 'Organic Gardening The No Dig Way'. That way the weeds already seeded in the compost wouldn't grow and the rain could still get through.

Hum my understanding was you use the weed cover when you are not going to grow for a while. Otherwise just mulch really thickly. The book you mention is the one we have too.

when you say not grow for a while how long do you mean? I thought you had to spread the compost in the autumn, cover the bed with weed suppressant fabric or black plastic, then remove it in the spring when you need to plant? Is that not your understanding? What do you think I should have done? I'll have to go back and read the book again I think.