Growing beetroot. Beetroot cultivation: traditional techniques and intensive cultivation methods

"Beets - a red girl, but with a green braid, she is the queen on the table, it will come in handy for health"

One of the most valuable gifts from nature that we can meet in the gardens is beets. Beet cultivation enriches our diet with unique, useful substances.

She gives herself completely to people: the tops are used to make the most valuable medicinal potions, and the root crop has been decorating our table for many thousands of years.

What is useful beets? Huge reserves of vitamins (more than 11 types), valuable fiber, micro and macro elements (about 20 varieties, in a very large amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium).

Unique organic acids help our body resist various diseases and ailments. You want:

• increase hemoglobin;
• improve heart function;
• strengthen the walls of blood vessels;
• get rid of hypertension;
• normalize metabolism;
• strengthen the immune system many times over;
• restore and increase the strength of the body;
• get a powerful prevention of atherosclerosis.

Then you need to get beets in your garden. This vegetable has a good yield, quite easy to care for. Let's take a closer look at the queen of root crops.

There is a beet - open the gate

Which variety would you prefer growing beets? Many people think that the best views are French and Dutch. Like all native Europeans, foreign beets are distinguished by pedantry. She has a stable harvest (although not a record) and a good form of root crops.

It's not just about patriotism. The fact is that our, domestic beets are much better tolerated possible mistakes in care, weather changes, under certain conditions gives the best harvest. And she is not able to accumulate toxins.

If you are going to grow beets for yourself, opt for domestic species.

The best varieties for our gardens

We are accustomed to the traditional spherical beets with a dark uniform color. But other species (with a multi-colored root crop different shapes: cylindrical, elongated, oval, flattened) is no worse in taste and usefulness.

Early ripe varieties

Beetroots. Beet cultivation of these varieties ends in 50-80 days from the moment of emergence. But be aware: this type of beet is not suitable for long-term storage. She asks immediately to the table.

• Podzimnaya A-474. Dark red, large (weighing 270-330 g) roots are very juicy. This variety is cold hardy and resistant to many diseases.
• Red ball. It has even, round, sweet, large (290-350 g) roots. For early species this variety is considered the most fruitful and long-term (it can be stored for 3-4 months). This variety is very good for children, as well as diet food.
• Single-growth. Saturated red fruits (weight 290-315 g) with a traditionally rounded shape have a delicate, pleasant taste. This species does not require thinning - the tuber has only one sprout.
• Bordeaux 237. Round-flat, with excellent taste qualities, the beets have juicy, strong, very large fruits (weighing 230-510 g). The variety is resistant to various ailments, has a good yield and is resistant to weather changes.

Mid-season varieties

The richest beet in the harvest, which can be stored all winter. The cultivation of beets comes to an end on 80-100 days from the moment of emergence.

• The incomparable A-463. Beet is fully consistent with its name. One of the most delicious, disease-resistant vegetables will become a real decoration of your garden. The root crop has a slightly flattened shape and a weight of 160-385 g.
• Bordeaux Kharkov. Very resistant vegetable with high yield. large fruits(weighing 300-460 g) are distinguished by increased palatability, very juicy and tender. But this variety is capricious, it quickly outgrows. Therefore, beet crops of this species must be slightly thickened or the vegetable should be sown a little later than the scheduled time.
• Bravo. The root crop reaches a mass of 300-500 g. This beet will please you not only good harvest but also excellent taste. Its taste with long storage becomes even more saturated. The fruits of this variety are one of the most juicy and tender, they are neat and almost the same, which the housewives like.
• Valens. Cold-resistant grade, but exacting to heat. The fruits are very good in taste (their weight is 180-330 g). Valenta can also be stored for a long time without losing its taste at all. And it is very easily pulled out of the ground when harvesting.

Late-ripening varieties

Beet cultivation continues 100 days after germination, but we know what we are waiting for. Late ripening of beets testifies to its best taste qualities.

This variety is ideal for storage winter time. Almost all types of late-ripening beets improve their taste and aroma during storage.

• Cylinder. Judging by the name, you have already guessed what fruits this beet variety will delight you with. The length of root crops can reach up to 20 cm, diameter up to 7 cm. It looks like a carrot. And amazingly sweet. It can be eaten raw with pleasure. This is a Dutch guest, but he feels quite well in the vastness of our garden.
• Crimean borscht. What borscht without beets! This high yielding variety ideal for rich, hearty borscht. Rounded, very tasty, juicy fruits have a mass of 270-390 g.
• Salad. The fruits will delight you with excellent taste (when cooked, they do not lose their rich, maroon color). Beets of this variety have a mass of 250-300 g, its fruits are almost the same, rounded smooth shape.
• Commander. Cylindrical in shape, the fruits have a mass of 250-340 g. They are very fragrant, crispy, dense and juicy. This variety of German breeders has an increased yield and more long time storage.

All about seeds

"From a bad seed do not expect a good tribe"- Wisdom from the people is always welcome. We need a healthy, strong vegetable.

For beet cultivation, we will select the best seeds. Beet seeds are in hard fruits, it is impossible to extract them from there.

In one fruit there are up to 5 seeds that can germinate all at once. This is the peculiarity of the vegetable (although there are single-sprout varieties that do not require additional thinning).

First, we sort the seeds and select the strongest and healthiest. Then we will carry out a germination test on the beets, which lasts 10 days.

Take a plate and lay on its bottom a felt folded in half, soaked in water. Put 50 seeds on it and cover with another damp felt (or canvas rag). Put the plate in a warm place (from +18°С to +25°С). Make sure the felt is always damp.

As soon as the seeds begin to germinate, take them daily (for 10 days) and count them. Percentage germinated seeds to the total number and will be the percentage of germination.

Class I beets should give a germination rate of 80%. To speed up the germination of the vegetable, increase the yield, the seeds must be prepared for adulthood.

Preparing for landing

◊ Vernalization. One of the most effective techniques preparation of seeds for growing beets. For 100 g of seeds we take 100 g of water. Seeds are placed in a glass or enamel container with a layer of about 4 cm.

Fill them with water (half of required amount). After 30-32 hours, add the rest of the water to the seeds (while stirring them).

Keep in a warm room for 3 days (at t° from + 15°С to + 20°С). During this period, the seeds will swell.

Then we will transfer them to colder conditions (you can put them on a balcony, a cold cellar). It is necessary to harden them for about 10 days in bulk at the bottom of the box. Vernalization should be carried out two weeks before sowing.

◊ Nutrient solution. Some experts advise, after checking for germination, soak the seeds for a day in one of the nutrient solutions:

• boric acid (0.25 tsp) + nitrophoska (0.5 tsp) + water;
• wood ash (1 tablespoon) + water;
• baking soda (1 tsp) + water;
• superphosphate (1 tsp) + water.

Water should be warm (+30°C) in the amount of one liter. After a day of feeding, wash the seeds running water, wrap them in a damp cloth and leave them there for 3 days.

royal seed

We need to prepare beds for growing beets in early May, immediately before sowing. We apply organic fertilizers to the soil at the rate of 20 kg per m2. You can use compost or manure.

• Sowing before winter. If the sowing of beets occurs before winter, the soil must be dug up to a depth of 25-30 cm, add organic matter at the rate of ½ bucket per m2.
• If sowing takes place on soils with increased level ground water- It is best to plant a vegetable in low beds.

Planting beets with seeds can be done in two stages. It depends on the type of beet:

Beets are very fond of the soil where cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and potatoes grew.

But after carrots, chard and cabbage, this vegetable does not want to grow well.

By the way, beets do not need to be planted a second time in the same place - she loves to travel.

Beet seeds germinate at t° +5°C. Young seedlings can survive frosts down to -2°C.

Growing beet seedlings

When planted in this way, the beets will be larger and more beautiful. It grows splendidly and takes root well, but only if you transplant it into wet ground in cloudy weather.

Before transplanting seedlings, tear off its central root a little (dive the vegetable).

Pour a spoon into the prepared hole. wood ash, pour water, insert a beet sprout, sprinkle it with soil from the sides and cut off the side leaves.

The seedlings themselves need to be grown in a greenhouse. The best time for greenhouse planting is the month of April. When the young beetroot becomes 4-5cm tall, it must be thinned out. As soon as the vegetable grows to 12 cm and acquires 3-4 true leaves, we transfer it to adult garden conditions.

• Advice. Leave some seedlings in the greenhouse - if one of the transplanted beets does not take well, plant another in its place.

It usually takes a week for the beets to become old enough to live under open sky. If you overexpose it in a greenhouse, then when transplanting such seedlings, the vegetable may grow deformed.

Thinning beets

Thinning when growing beets is essential for them to grow stronger, more productive, and healthier.

If you plant a vegetable with seeds directly in the beds, the first thinning must be done if they have 2-3 true leaves. We do the second thinning when the beets get 5-6 leaves.

• Advice. Thinning beets is best after rain or good watering. So you can without special efforts thin out plants without harming neighboring ones. After the procedure, add ashes to the beets to scare off pests.

At the first thinning, we make sure that the distance between the beets is at least 2-3cm, at the second 6-7cm. The third and last thinning is done in early August.

This time we will leave the distance between plants at 10-12cm. This is the ideal distance for the beets to form their root crop well and increase its mass.

Beet beauty care

Growing beetroot is fairly easy. A light-loving plant asks only that you weed it in time, loosen it and water it.

• Watering. Irrigation rate 15-20 l/m. The plant especially needs to drink during its growth period. But do not overdo it, especially a month before harvest. Waterlogging of the soil during this period leads to a decrease in the taste of beets.

Nutrition for the beetroot

Beets are in great need of minerals (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). If you do not have mineral fertilizers, add ash to the soil at the rate of 3 cups per 1 m2. Mix ashes with humus (or compost).

• 1 feeding. Immediately after the first thinning. Nitrogen fertilizers (10 g of urea per 1 m2).
• 2 top dressing. As soon as the tops in the aisles begin to close. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (8 g of superphosphate + 10 g of potassium chloride per 1 m2).

Don't overfeed your beets. With an excess of nitrogen fertilizers, it can begin to accumulate nitrates. It is better to fertilize with nitrogen fractionally (in two steps).

Beets also need copper, boron, molybdenum. By the appearance of beets, you can understand what it lacks:

• Yellow spots on the top- not enough potassium. Water it with a solution milk of lime(dilute 200 g of fluffy lime in 10 liters of water, then add 80 g of potassium chloride there).
• Haulm redness- lack of sodium. Sprinkle the beds with ashes more often, and pour the plants themselves over the foliage with salt water.

Dangers when growing beets

Diseased plants must be removed from the garden and destroyed. Treat all beet beds with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.

On the successful cultivation beets can also be affected by pests that readily eat the juicy tops of the plant.

It's harvest time

Beetroot cultivation is coming to an end. Try to harvest beets before frost (it is very sensitive to low temperatures).

Carefully dig it from below with a fork, clean the roots with your hands and carefully cut the tops with a knife, trying not to damage the vegetable.

As soon as the beet slices are hardened, it can be stored.

How to store beets. Medium-sized beets (up to 10 cm in diameter) are best preserved.

Sort harvested beets, dry on fresh air and put in clean boxes, sprinkling the root crop with sand or sawdust.

The vegetable is well preserved in ordinary plastic bags at temperatures from +2°С to +3°С, air humidity 80-85%.

So we briefly got acquainted with the basic requirements for growing beets - this is simply an indispensable vegetable on our table. I hope this article helps you grow excellent harvest beets in your plots.

See more short video from Yulia Minyaeva.

See you soon, dear readers!

In order for the beets to be stored for as long as possible and remain as firm and tasty as if they were just dug up, it is necessary not only to provide the plants with proper care, but also to choose the right time for harvesting the beets.

How do you know when it's time to dig beets?

It is worth hurrying up, starting harvesting work at the end of summer, and the result will be unripe root crops that did not have time to accumulate enough nutrients. And if you don’t think about the beets waiting for their turn in the garden for a long time, you can skip the first frosts and dig up frozen root crops that are no longer suitable for storage.

In both cases, all efforts aimed at growing and caring for beets will be in vain - the main part of the crop will be ruined. That's why it's so important to know exactly when to harvest your beets!

Video about beet harvesting

Even if you chose the most, carefully approached the sowing of seeds and carefully looked after the plantings during the entire growing season, just the wrong harvesting of red beets can lead to disastrous results. Therefore, since you have already begun to grow beets, bring the work you have begun to the end in accordance with all the rules, without relying on intuition alone.

Find out what's coming best time to start harvesting beets, you can on the following grounds:

• root crops have reached a diameter corresponding to their variety;
• characteristic growths appeared on the beets;
• the lower foliage turned yellow, began to wither and dry out;
• Freezing temperatures are expected in the near future, according to weather forecasts.

Beets should not be left in the ground, not only during the first frosts - heavy rains are also negative factor, because from the abundance of moisture, large root crops begin to crack and rot. Therefore, it is not necessary to delay the harvesting of beets for a long time during a rainy autumn.

Since the timing of red beet harvesting changes every year, it is impossible to name any specific date. AT different regions, under different weather conditions, beet harvesting can be carried out from the beginning of September until November 1. In any case, try to collect root vegetables in dry sunny weather until a stable temperature of +5 degrees sets in and before the ground freezes.

When to start harvesting table, sugar and fodder beets?

The issue of timely harvesting concerns any variety of beets - whether it is table beets grown for personal consumption, sugar beets cultivated for the purpose of sugar production, or intended for livestock feed. Regardless of the variety, beets dug out on time are stored much better, and this is of great importance both for large farms engaged in the cultivation of this crop, and for ordinary summer residents.

Harvesting beets

The timing of the collection of beets of the listed species is approximately the same. The only difference is that harvesting is sometimes specially started earlier or later than the due date by agreement with the sugar factories, so that the sugar beet raw materials do not go to waste. But the timing of harvesting table beets can greatly shift in time depending on the variety - some early varieties reach technical ripeness as early as 50 days after they were planted in the beds. But they, as a rule, do not differ in high keeping quality, therefore, for long-term storage gardeners additionally grow late varieties with maturation periods of more than 100 days.

Productivity of beets of different types

When cultivated on an industrial scale, the mass of root crops and the yield of beets per 1 ha largely depend on the timing of harvesting. In this regard, in beet farms, much attention is paid to the issue of when to harvest beets.

Video about the timing and features of beet harvesting

Average beet yields:

• Table beet produces on average about 40-50 tons per hectare with a seeding rate of 16 kg to 20 kg per 1 hectare. Under the condition of growing highly productive varieties and applying drip irrigation yields up to 90 tons per hectare can be achieved.
• Sugar beet in Russia is no different high yield: on average in Russia, it is possible to collect approximately 18 tons per hectare, in the Krasnodar Territory and Belgorod region– up to 30 tons per hectare. And in a number European countries and in the USA, the average yield of sugar beet varieties reaches 60 tons per hectare.
• The yield of fodder beet varies from 30 to 60 tons per hectare, the maximum recorded result is 172 tons per hectare. Moreover, from 60 tons of fodder beets, it is also possible to obtain about 30 centners of tops, also suitable for livestock feed.

Taken together, proper agricultural practices, compliance with the timing of beet sowing and harvesting, as well as the use of fertilizers and modern biological products will help to achieve more high performance productivity. But so far, beet harvests in Russia are only declining.

Growing beets in the photo

Currently, there is practically no garden where beets are not grown. Beet seeds can be sown both in spring, summer and autumn. In spring, sowing begins when the temperature of the soil at a depth of 10 cm warms up to +8 ... + 10 ° С (end of April - May). Winter sowing is carried out in November and at the same time they receive the most early production(at the end of May, mid-June).

When planting beets in open ground for winter sowing, special varieties are used:

Beet seeds "Podzimnaya A-474" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Podzimnyaya A-474" in the photo

"Podzimnaya A-474",

Beet seeds "Cold-resistant-19" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Cold-resistant-19" in the photo

"Cold-resistant-19" etc., which are resistant to coloring.

To facilitate the care of beets when planting in spring, the seeds are sown in grooves made at a distance of 15-20 cm from one another. The seeding rate is 1.5-2 g per 1 m2. Planting depth - 2-3 cm. The emergence of seedlings can be delayed up to three weeks, and in the first period the plants grow very slowly. To accelerate the emergence of seedlings, soaking the seeds in Epin or another growth stimulator is used.

Beets can be planted with seedlings previously grown in a bright, warm room, or plants obtained by breaking through thickened crops can be used.

After planting the beets, when caring for seedlings in open ground, the soil is treated with a rake across the sowing rows, and later weeds are weeded, the beds are systematically watered and loosened.

Observing correct agricultural technique cultivation, beets are thinned out twice: the first - when 1-2 true leaves appear at a distance of 3-4 cm, the second - when the plants have 4-5 leaves and the root crop reaches a diameter of 3-5 cm, at a distance of 6-8 cm Young root crops from the second breakthrough are used for food.

When growing and caring for beets in the open field, do not forget that this crop is very demanding on soils. It needs a significant amount of nutrients, but during the growth period it consumes them unevenly. In the first month, it is quite content with what is in the soil. root system at this time it is poorly developed, so young plants absorb only readily available nutrients. Developing, the roots penetrate deep and to the sides, but the main part of them is still located in the soil layer where there are best conditions humidity and air exchange. Be sure to consider this feature of growing beets and be sure to feed the plants before the leaves close.

Of the main nutrients, beets prefer nitrogen and potassium. During the formation of the tops, more nitrogen is consumed, and when the root crop is poured, more potassium is consumed. Phosphorus is needed during the entire growing season in approximately the same amounts. The recommended rate of fertilizers for top dressing in the first half of summer, g: nitrogen - 25, phosphorus - 20, potassium - 15, in the second - respectively 15:20:30 per 1 m2.

Beets are demanding on moisture, especially in the growth phase of rosette leaves. According to right technology growing beets, the irrigation rate is 2-3 buckets per 1 m2.

Top dressing with potassium nitrate (20 g per 10 liters of water) improves the taste and increases the sugar content of root crops.

When growing and caring for beetroot, remember that it is a long day plant. It makes high demands on light, the lack of lighting reduces the yield of root crops and worsens their quality. Therefore, when growing beets, choose a sunny place. The best predecessors are white cabbage and tomatoes.

Beets are harvested at the onset of technical maturity, characteristic of the variety. For example, a variety: "Red Ball" - on the 65-80th day after the emergence of mass shoots, "Bordeaux 237" - on the 80-105th day, "Egyptian Flat" - on the 110-120th, and "Cylinder" and "Kuban borscht" can be kept in the beds for up to 130 days.

Intensive growth of root crops usually occurs in September with the onset of cool weather, so beets for winter consumption must be sown so that the end of its growing season falls on late September - early October. For example, beets of the “Cylinder” variety, with a maximum period from germination to full maturity of 130 days, should be sown in mid-May, and early ripe variety"Bordeaux" for summer consumption can be sown in April.

Unsweetened, and sometimes salty beets happen if they are overexposed in the garden. Every 5-10 days, the loss of sugar content is 40-50%, while beets overgrown in the garden are poorly stored.

To keep beets well, do not dig them in rainy weather and stop watering two weeks before the expected harvest date. Dug out root crops with tops for several hours, ventilate under a canopy. If the day is hot, then limit the drying time. Root crops should not wilt. Then the tops are cut off, leaving petioles above the head no more than 1 cm long. Root crops up to 14 cm in diameter are considered standard.

Watch the video "Growing Beets", which shows all the main stages of planting and caring for a crop:

It is a very valuable food plant. The roots of table varieties contain sugar, protein, fat, fiber, organic acids (malic, citric, etc.) "mineral salts (magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, iodine, etc.), dyes, vitamins C, B1, B2 , P, PP and folic acid. In cooking, fresh beets are used to make vinaigrettes, borscht, side dishes, sauces. It is also used in dried, pickled and canned form.

AT Food Industry red beet pigments are used for harmless coloring of products.

Beet pulp contains betaine, which normalizes blood pressure and prevent hypertension. Pectins contribute to the elimination of toxic compounds of lead and radioactive strontium from the body.

AT traditional medicine to raise hemoglobin in the blood, beets are used in combination with carrots and black radish. Boiled beets are recommended for atherosclerosis, hypertension, diseases of the liver and kidneys, intestines, etc.

Raw beet juice can be drunk as a means of improving metabolism and strengthening the body. This root crop contains a unique set of elements and a large number of substances that are not subject to destruction during thermal cooking. Beetroot is the "cleaner" of the body No. 1, it sanitizes the intestines, including through the destruction of putrefactive bacteria, and not just the mechanical effect of fiber.

The best varieties of table beet for open ground (with photo)

View a selection of photos of beet varieties suitable for outdoor cultivation:

Beet seeds "Bordeaux 237" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Bordeaux 237" in the photo

Bordeaux 237- mid-early, from germination to harvest 62-116 days. The shape of the root crop is round, the pulp is juicy, tender, sugary, intensely dark red. The mass of the root crop is 230-500 g. It is immersed in the soil at 1/2 of the height. This is one of the best varieties of beets for open ground - heat-resistant and winter storage.

Beet seeds "Red Ball" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Red Ball" in the photo

"Red Ball" - early variety, the growing season to technical ripeness 65-90 days, fruitful. The pulp is juicy, tender, dark-colored with purple tint, root weight 220-500 g. Good keeping quality.

Beet seeds "Egyptian flat" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Egyptian flat" in the photo

"Egyptian Flat"- medium-ripe variety, from germination to ripeness 94-120 days. The shape of the root crop is flat, the flesh is red-violet. The variety is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, has good keeping quality.

Beet seeds "Cylinder" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Cylinder" in the photo

"Cylinder"- a late-ripening variety. Root crops of a cylindrical form, dark red color. The skin is thin and easy to peel. The root crop is immersed in the ground by 1/3-1/4 of its length and is easily pulled out. The darker and more evenly colored the root crop of this variety of table beet, the less stiff fibers in it and the higher its the nutritional value.

Beet seeds "Incomparable A-463" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Incomparable A-463" in the photo

"Incomparable A-463"- medium variety, growing season 70-100 days, outward signs, shape, color and quality is similar to "Bordeaux", but more demanding on soil fertility. The weight of root crops is 150-360 g, fruitful. The grade is steady against tsvetushnost, it is well stored.

Beet seeds "Mona" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Mona" in the photo

"Mona"- single-sprout cylindrical beets. Seeds must be sown immediately at the right distance. You don't have to do thinning. Root crops are leveled, smooth, weighing about 400 g. They are immersed in the soil by 1/3 of the length, they are easy to assemble. The peel is thin, the pulp is juicy, good taste, uniform dark red color.

Beet seeds "Detroit" in the photo
Beetroot variety "Detroit" in the photo

"Detroit"- one of the best early varieties. From germination to technical ripeness of 80-100 days, the root crops are spherical, dark red in color, have an excellent structure and a pleasant taste. The variety is productive, well stored.

Beetroot seeds "Baby Bit" F1 in the photo
Beetroot variety "Baby Bit" F1 in the photo

"Baby Beat" F1. Sweet and tender beets, with thin skin and beautiful juicy flesh without rings. Specially designed for growing early, tender bunch products. This variety of beets is one of the best, and is characterized by early setting, formation and gradual growth of perfectly round roots that are ready to eat in 60 days.

beet seeds Ordinary miracle" on the picture
Beetroot variety "Ordinary Miracle" in the photo

"Ordinary Miracle"- medium-early variety. Root crops are round and round-flat, weighing 250-500 g, inside are intensely dark red, juicy, without rings.

Beet seeds "Barguzin" in the photo
Beet variety "Barguzin" in the photo

"Barguzin"- an early beet variety for harvesting in summer and autumn. Ripens in 110 days from sowing. The rosette of leaves is small.

Beet seeds "Pablo" F1 in the photo
Beetroot variety "Pablo" F1 in the photo

"Pablo" F1- mid-season hybrid. The rosette of leaves is erect, medium-sized. The root crop is rounded, smooth, dark red in color, the “tail” is thin. Diameter 10-13 cm. Flesh, intensely colored, without division into ring zones.

Beet seeds "Bon-Bon" F1 in the photo
Beet grade "Bon-Bon" F1 in the photo

"Bon-Bon" F1 - mid-season variety, the growing season is 120 days. The plants are medium-sized, the rosette of leaves is small. Beautiful rounded root crop with a smooth surface and intense red, ringless flesh.

Growing beetroot

Botanical classification and morphological features
Table beet belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family, Beta genus, Vulgaris L species. It is a biennial plant. In the first year it forms a rosette of leaves and a root crop, in the second year it forms a stem on which flowers and seeds are formed. The weight of 1000 seeds is 100-160 g.

Varieties of table beet differ from each other in a number of morphological features:

1. The shape and size of the leaf rosette. The shape of the socket is compressed, semi-erect and standing, in size - large, medium, small. With a moisture deficit, mscarlet and branched rosette.

2. Coloring of the leaf blade. Can be light green, green, dark green without antocyan, dark green with low pigmentation, dark red with strong anthocyanin pigmentation. As the leaf ages, the anthocyanin coloration intensifies; at unfavorable temperatures, lack of soil nutrition and moisture, it darkens.

3. The surface of the sheet. It can be smooth, wavy, strongly wavy corrugated (large-bubble), strongly corrugated (very fine-bubble).

4. The shape of the leaf plate. It can be triangular, heart-shaped, quadrangular.

6. Coloring of petiole. It happens in black-red, dark red, purple-red, pink with white longitudinal stripes, pink with green longitudinal stripes, orange, green and milky white.

7. External environmentasca root crop. Maybebe black-red, dark red, dark purple, dark face with a cherry tint, red with a pink-purple tint. The external color of the root crop intensifies with age, when grown in the south and if the pulled root crop is left in the air.
8. The shape of the root crop. It can be flat, convex-flat, rounded, oval, cylindrical, conical. Heavy mechanical composition of the soil, deficiency or excess of moisture, low temperatures contribute to the formation of long root crops.

9. The surface of the root crop. It can be smooth, uneven, rough, furrowed, angular.

10. The size and nature of the root head. It can be small, medium, large, slightly convex, large, strongly convex with a strongly suberized surface. Its surface can be smooth, uneven and rough.
11. Coloring of pulp. May be purple-red, light burgundy, raspberry red, bright red and dark red, burgundy, maroon, blackish red, blackish burgundy, black-red, maroon with blackish burgundy rings. The flesh color darkens with age. Among root crops of the same age, the color is more pronounced in small ones.

12. Ringing. May be absent, may be very mild, moderate, severe, very pronounced, most pronounced.

13. Penetration into the soil.Root crops can be completely buried in the soil, by 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 parts. Under irrigation conditions, in the case of strong growth of root crops, as well as on compacted soils, root crops are less buried in the soil.

In addition, when evaluating a variety, attention is paid to the degree of branching and the presence of lateral roots, disease resistance and keeping quality of root crops.

Growing technology
seedling method. Seedlings are grown in greenhouses or greenhouses in the same way as seedlings early cabbage. Seeds are sown in the third decade of February. Seedlings are 50-60 days old. In open ground, plants are planted in the phase of 4-5 true leaves. The row spacing is 60 cm, the distance between plants in a row is 7-10 cm.

Reckless way. In crop rotation, beets are placed on the same field as carrots, especially during the period of germination and intensive crop formation (June-August). Moisture deficiency during this period leads to lignification of root crops, and its excess slows down growth and reduces yield.

It is advisable to sow seeds in two terms: the first time - immediately after sowing early cereals, the second time - in the first half of May. On crops of the second term, there is almost no flowering, the roots are more tender and better stored in winter. Therefore, the harvest of the first sowing dates is used mostly in the summer-autumn period, and the second - for storage.

Seeds are sown in a wide-row (45-60 cm), broad-band (strip width - 10-12 cm) or tape (20-50 cm) method. With single-row sowing with inter-row spacing, seed consumption is 8-10 kg/ha, with belt sowing - 12-16 kg/ha. Seeding depth - 3-4 cm. Rolling is carried out before and after sowing. The introduction of mineral fertilizers into the rows during sowing is effective (N 2 0, P2 0, K2 0).

To destroy weeds, beet crops in the phase of 2-4 true leaves are treated with the herbicide Betanal Max Pro (1.5 kg/ha), Gol (5 kg/ha), etc. Against pests (beet flea, beet weevil, beet fly, aphids, mites) crops are sprayed with permitted ones. It is prohibited to use beetroot treated with preparations for beam products.

Beets are harvested before frost, as frozen root crops lose taste qualities and poorly stored. When harvesting, they are cleaned of tops, sorted into marketable and non-commercial, from which small ones are isolated separately. Marketable root crops are packaged and sent for sale or storage, small ones are stored in vegetable stores or trenches for forcing in protected ground, non-marketable (overgrown, mechanically damaged, wilted) are fed to livestock.

Cultivation for beam products. Beets for beam products are sown before winter or in early spring. The seeding rate is 1-1.2 million seeds/ha. Planting depth - 2-3 cm. Place of cultivation, tillage, fertilizer, sowing methods and plant care are the same as for carrots.

Beets with tops are harvested when the diameter of the root crops reaches 3-3.5 cm. It is not necessary to be late with the harvesting of winter crops, as they quickly shoot and lose quality. After harvesting, the plants are washed, knitted into bundles, packed and sent for sale.

seed production
Seeds of table beet to obtain uterine roots are sown in the second half of May - in early June, in the Steppe - in the third decade of June. Sowing at such times allows you to get a leveled quality planting material with morphological characteristics of the variety. When planting 2-3 varieties in one farm, the spatial isolation between them should be at least 2000 m in open areas and 800 m in protected areas; between crops of canteen, fodder and an area of ​​over 1 ha in open areas - 10 km, and in protected areas - 5 km. The technology for growing queen cells is the same as for root crops on commercial crops. During the growing season, 2-3 varietal weedings are carried out, removing underdeveloped and atypical plants, and approbation before harvesting.

Remove queen cells before frost. In order not to damage the central bud, when cutting the tops of the root crops, petioles 1-1.5 cm long are left. Simultaneously with harvesting, they are sorted according to the morphological characteristics of the variety (typical head, color of petioles, leaves, root crops, etc.) and draw up an act of selection of queen cells. Root crops weighing 200-400 g are selected for testes. 41-56 thousand root crops are laid for storage per 1 ha of testes, depending on the sowing method and 15-20% of the insured fruit. The uterine root crops are stored in trenches or in vegetable stores with active ventilation at a temperature of 2...4°C.

Soil preparation for beet seed plants is the same as for carrot seed plants. Simultaneously with the preparation of the soil, the piles are opened. Root crops are selected on the day of planting to prevent them from wilting. Even slight wilting delays the regrowth of the testicles and significantly reduces the yield and seed quality seeds. When choosing queen cells, root crops that are frozen and affected by diseases (bacteriosis, dry and core rot) are removed. For the cultivation of the elite, root crops are also discarded by color and amount of pulp. Root crops are planted in early spring with VPU-4, VPU-4M machines in prepared furrows or slots. The depth of planting depends on the size of the root crops: the top should be covered with earth by 2-3 cm. The planting pattern of 70x35 cm provides a plant density of 40.8 thousand / ha. In some farms, root crops are planted according to the scheme 70x70 cm, 1-2 in a hole. Planting according to the scheme 60x30-35 cm is also effective. Plant care is the same as in commercial crops. Before flowering, 1-2 varietal weedings are carried out, during which “stubborn” ones are removed, as well as plants affected by diseases and atypical ones. Before flowering, the testes are examined, an act of varietal examination is drawn up, which is attached to the act of approbation. During the flowering period, a varietal examination is also carried out according to the accepted method. In the southern regions, beet seed production is economically profitable only when. During the growing season, plantations are watered at least 2-3 times at an irrigation rate of 350-450 m 3 of water per hectare. For better seed maturation on elite crops, flower-bearing shoots are pinched to 1/3-1/4 of the length at the beginning of the formation of the crop. The testicles are collected when the glomeruli turn brown on 1/3 of the shoots of the 1st order. After drying, the seeds are threshed with grain combines (the number of drum revolutions is reduced to 400 per minute). After drying, the seeds are brought to sowing conditions, their sowing qualities are checked and packed. Their humidity should not exceed 14%. The yield is 15-20 q/ha.

industrial technology growing table beets

The advantage of growing table beets over other vegetables is the possibility of using a complex of sugar beet growing machines (for example, special seeders and tillage units, etc.). Compared to carrots, table beet is less dependent on weather conditions and watering, its seedlings are not so stretched. In addition, beets are well stored and have a large market.

The disadvantages include the laboriousness of some operations (weeding, cleaning) and the danger of mass damage by pests (especially beet flea in the initial period of plant development).

Crop rotation

Good predecessors for beets are potatoes, legumes, cucumber, tomato. A satisfactory predecessor is cabbage, bad predecessors are table, sugar and fodder beets, and other vegetables of the Marevy family. The return of beets to their original place is recommended no earlier than after 3-4 years.

Soil preparation

The main requirements for soil preparation are deep tillage and good surface leveling.

After harvesting the predecessor - crushing of the residues with a KIR-1.5 machine and shallow peeling with disc cultivators (LDG-10, etc.) or BDT-7 to provoke the germination of weed seeds. After 2-3 weeks - deep basic tillage (plowing), to destroy germinated weeds and loosen the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm.

When infested with root shoot weeds, a slightly different technology is used. After cleaning the predecessor, milling or double deep disking (BDT-7) is carried out. After the growth of weeds - plowing. If weather conditions allow, after plowing, re-milling or disking is carried out.

In the spring, when the physical ripeness of the soil occurs, moisture is closed (harrowing).

On heavy, floating soils, as well as on floodplain soils, it is recommended to carry out shallow plowing in spring, followed by milling.

Before sowing, the beets are cultivated to a sowing depth (3-4 cm), followed by plowing and rolling. Packing is not carried out in rainy weather.

fertilizers

Compared to other root crops (for example, carrots), beets can form a crop at high concentrations of mineral salts, so fertilizer rates can be applied once, without top dressing.

Like other root crops, beets absorb potassium well, so it is added 30% more than nitrogen.

They mainly contribute mineral fertilizers. The approximate recommended application rate is N 120-140, P 80-100, K 180-200 kg a.i./ha. It is better to calculate the rate of fertilizer application by the balance method.

Organic fertilizers are applied moderately, only on poorly cultivated soils (for example, 30-40 t/ha on gray forest soils, 15-20 t/ha on chernozems).

Pre-sowing preparation of seeds

Recently, the seeds of table beet, as well as sugar beet, are sold coated (mainly foreign varieties). If you bought untreated seeds, then it makes sense to process them, because. untreated seeds germinate for quite a long time (up to 2 weeks).

Bubbling gives a good effect - soaking seeds in water with a forced supply of air or oxygen. The duration of bubbling for beet seeds is 12-18 hours with oxygen or 18-24 hours with air.
Table beet seeds in the fight against peronosporosis (downy mildew) and other diseases are treated with TMTD (6-8 g per 1 kg of seeds).

Sowing

The beet passes to the generative state quite quickly (after 50 days), which determines its sowing time. If carrots, for example, can be sown before winter and early spring, then beets can be sown only in spring and later than carrots, i.e. the average spring sowing time is applied (in middle lane- the second decade of May), when the soil at a depth of 5-6 cm warms up to + 8 ... + 10 ° С.

It is best to sow beets under the upcoming long rains (if, of course, they are planned). Now it is not so difficult to predict: the weather for 2-3 days ahead can be found with a fairly high degree of probability on the Internet (on the sites www.gismeteo.ru, www.meteo.ru, etc.).

Sowing is carried out with vegetable seeders (SON-2.8, CO-4.2, Maple) or beet seeders.

Sowing depth - 2.5-3 cm on loamy and 3-4 cm on sandy and sandy soils.

The sowing scheme is best used, as for sugar beets: single-line with a row spacing of 45 cm (for a tractor track of 180 cm): 45 x 8 ... 11 cm. For a tractor track of 140 cm, a two-line scheme is used 62 + 8 x 12 ... 14 cm. The distance between plants in a row of more than 15 cm is undesirable because of the danger of overgrowing root crops, which at the same time may not correspond to the size regulated by the standard.

The seeding rate is 12-16 kg/ha, the density is 350-400 thousand plants/ha.For the Cylinder variety and similar beet varieties, the standing density is slightly higher (450-500 thousand plants/ha).

Seeding care

Before the emergence of seedlings for the destruction of weeds and soil crust, they are treated with a mesh harrow BSO-4A. This technique usually does not allow you to completely get rid of weeds. Therefore, manual weeding is carried out in rows or herbicides are used:
Betanal: 5-6 l/ha - against annual dicots, spraying in phase 2 of true beet leaves.
Hexilur 2-3 l/ha - against annual dicots and monocots. Sprayed before sowing, simultaneously with sowing or before beet sprouts.

In the phase of 2-4 true leaves, thinning (breakthrough) of seedlings is carried out. You can do without a breakthrough if you use single-sprout varieties and precision seeders.

Several times during the summer, it is possible to irrigate with a norm of 120-150 m 3 /ha. Watering is stopped a month before harvesting.

Cleaning

Beets are harvested earlier than carrots, as their root crops protrude above the soil surface and are easily damaged by frost.

The standard size of the beets for harvesting should be from 5 to 10 cm in diameter (root crops of quality class I) or up to 14 cm (second class). After harvesting, the length of the petioles should be no more than 2 cm.

Beets can be harvested using beet lifters SNU-3R, SNSh-3, SNS-2M.

After digging, the root crops are manually removed from the soil, the tops are cut, sorted and placed in boxes or containers.

Beet harvesters can also be used.

Beet yield averages 20-25 t/ha, but at good care and irrigation can be obtained up to 50 t/ha.