When To Start |
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Sow outdoors late April to mid-July on the Coast. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold.
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Preparing the Seeds |
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Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days depending on soil temperature. For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm (3-5") apart when seedlings are 5cm (2") tall. Eat thinnings, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.
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Preparing the Soil |
Beets are moderate feeders so plant in deeply dug, composted soil and water regularly-
dry soil will increase the amount of zoning (pale rings in the beet). Mix 1/2 cup of complete
organic fertilizer (p.81) per 1.5-3m (5-10') of row into the soil below the seed furrow .
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Diseases |
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If beets have black cankers in the roots (scabs), soil may need more boron. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of borax (in laundry section of grocery store) to 4 litres of water. Spread evenly over 9sq m (100sq ft) of soil. Do not apply at heavier rate. This should bring your PH level nearer to neutral (7.0) Circular lesions with a purple halo on the leaf is cercospora leaf spot. Rotate this crop every two years, keep the area clean and beets watered.
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Insects |
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Leaf miner maggots cause blistered grey tunnels in leaves. You can squish them inside the leaf. Floating row cover carefully applied over the beets will prevent the leaf miner fly from laying its eggs.
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Growing Tips |
In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds will germinate. Soil temperature for Sow outdoors late April to mid-July on the Coast. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold.
Seed life: 3 years
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Harvest |
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Harvest at any size. Eat the greens too. Store in the ground, or in moist peat or sand just above freezing.
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Latin |
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Beta vulgaris subsp. esculenta
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