We know beets as a rustic vegetable that prefers rich, fresh soil just like an exposure to full sun. Beets are part of the family Chenopodiaceae according to the classical classification or also from the Amaranthaceae family according to the phylogenetic classification.
How are beet seeds sown?
There are two ways to sow beets, one is by sowing them in boxes and the other by sowing them directly into the ground.
Sow in seedbeds
- Fill the box 2/3 with potting soil and gently squeeze with a trowel.
- We place the glomeruli leaving at least 3 cm between each.
- We cover the seedbed with a sieve and lightly tamp with the help of a trowel.
- We spray the water with the help of a spray.
When the seedlings have reached 10 cm or when they have at least the first five leaves, we have to place them on the ground with a space of about 20 cm between them and selecting those that are more vigorous.
Sow in the ground
Beets like prefer very cool and loose soil, we start by loosening the ground with a grelinette and level with the help of a hook. We add, if necessary, a little ash because beets prefer potash. If the plant requires it, we add mature compost or well-decomposed compost in the furrows.
This is a planting that is done directly online:
- We open furrows 1 to 2 cm deep, with a space of 25 to 30 cm apart.
- Then we sow a glomerulus every 5 cm.
- We cover with fine soil and then press with the back of the rake.
- We sprinkle gently and we keep the earth moist until it rises.
- Once the seedlings have reached 10 cm or have the first five leaves, the most vigorous ones will be selected and we place them at a space of 20 cm apart each.
Sowing beets and transplanting them
Beetroot it is usually planted in the ground, but for early cultivation it is much better to sow it in boxes:
In early cultivation, we place the seed at the end of February to April in small boxes. The transplant is usually carried out at the time of the first planting in the place, which means that it is in April, this being a method that allows a harvest from May to July.
In seasonal cultivation, sowing is done in mid-April to July directly into the ground for a harvest that will take place from July to October.
How to harvest and store beets?
For an early harvest, we have to harvest the beets in the months of May to July. For what is the growing season, this is a task that is done between the months of July and October.
Some gardeners harvest young leaves to consume in what is known as mezclum. If we decide to do this, we need to be careful not to exhaust the plants so that they still form their roots.
So that we can keep the beets all winter long, it is recommended that we keep them in a cool and dark place, such as a cellar.
To optimize the conservation of the beet and maintain the best flavor qualities, we can bury the beets under a layer of dry sand. In a temperate climate, they can be kept in the ground simply protected with the help of a mulch.
Beet pests and diseases
Sigatoka is a fungal disease caused by the Cercospora beticola fungus. This is quite common and is manifested by small round spots on the upper surface of the leaves, they are brown to gray in color and surrounded by a red border. The most affected leaves dry out and die.
Moreover, the beet worm also known as Pegomycete or beet miner, is a disease where the larvae dig galleries in the foliage. However, this pest is less common in orchards than in field crops.