By Josie Borlongan, Garden Guides Contributor
About Beets
Beets are biennial plants that are grown as an annual. They are a
flowering plant species in the family Chenopodiaceae. Beets grow
about 12 inches (30 cm) tall and about 10 inches (24 cm) across.
The sweetly flavored roots are mainly used cooked, either fresh or
stored. They can also be pickled. The fresh green tops can be used
as greens.
Site Preparation
Beets grow best in cool, even temperatures ideally at 61 degrees F
(16 degrees C). It is in cooler temperatures that they also develop
in deeper colors. They can be grown in an open site on rich, light
soil with high nitrogen levels, using fertilizer with 21 percent N
content approximately 2
1/2 to 3
1/2 oz. per
square yard (70 to 100 g per square meter). Apply half the nitrogen
before sowing; acidic soils can be added with lime.
Special Features
The swollen root forms at ground level may be round, flat or
cylindrical in shapes. Beets' flesh is normally red in color but
may also be yellow, white or have concentric pink and white rings.
The skin color can be red, yellow or off-white.
Choosing a Variety
Recommended beet varieties:
Bull's Blood, Burpee's Golden, Chiogga Striped, Cylindra, Detroit
Dark Red, Early Wonder, Formanova, Lutz Green Leaf, Red Ace and
Scarlet Supreme.
Planting
Start planting beets in spring. Sow seeds in their natural
environment outdoors when the soil has warmed up to at least 45
degrees F (7 degrees C). Sow seeds
1/2 to
¾ inches (1 to 2 cm) deep--spacing will be based on
the type and size of beets.
For earlier crops, sow seeds in early spring under covers or in
frames. They can be sown indoors in seed trays or cell packs,
transplanting outside when the seedlings are 2 inches (5 cm) tall.
Early beets need plenty of space in between, so ensure to space
rows 9 inches (23 cm) apart.
Sow seeds at intervals of two to three weeks until hot weather
arrives to ensure continuous supply of young beet and beet
tops.
Care
Water beet plants at a rate of 2 gallons per square yard (11 liters
per square mile), every two weeks to prevent the soil from drying
out. Apply the remaining nitrogenous fertilizer during active
growth.
When beet seedlings have produced around three or four leaves, it
is necessary to thin clumps growing close to each other. This can
be accomplished by nipping off the top green leaves at soil level
without disturbing the remaining seedlings.
Cutworms, aphids, damping off, fungal leaf spots and boron
deficiency are common problems affecting beets.
Harvesting and Storage
Beets can be harvested at any stage from small, immature roots to
fully mature roots. Harvesting can start from seven to 13 weeks
after sowing. In mild areas, beets can be left in well-drained soil
in the winter, but add a protection of straw up to 6 inches (15 cm)
deep.
Harvest beets by carefully gripping the leaf stems and pulling the
beet from the soil. They should lift easily since they are
shallow-rooted. Avoid damaging the roots as much as possible since
they may bleed when cut. Store the roots in moist sand in a
frost-free place. They can be stored through mid spring.
Borscht
Beet Orange Chutney
Pickled Beets and Egg
