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Beetroot, which is also known as beta vulgaris, is a sweet, nutritious, nourishing, and very healthy vegetable, filled with antioxidants.
The anti-oxidants found in beetroot prevent cancer and have heart-protecting properties. Beetroot is one of the most common vegetables grown across the world.
In this article, I will be explaining the beetroot growing stages from planting to nurturing and harvesting.
Planting Beetroot
Follow the steps below to plant your beetroot.
1) Select your seed or seedlings
This should be effortlessly obtainable in any local garden. Don’t be scared of planting beet seed because it is easy to take care of. Boltardy is a rare variety of beetroot and it is commonly known for being sown early.
The golden and white varieties of beetroot do not grow the same way. Aside from these, the type of beet you select depends on the one you like the most. The soil pH must be in a range of 6.5-7.0.
2) Choose a Location
Beetroots adapt to a neutral, fertile, moist, and acidic soil of pH 6.5-7.0. The soil must not be too sandy. Although the roots grow on the top surface, clay soil must be used at the top and must be made loose by using well-rotted organic compounds.
The position must be in a sunny environment and must also be able to give you partial shade.
3) Grow beetroot in the pot
If you are working with a round variety that is rare, a pot can be adopted and it must be at least 2 inches in diameter and also 20 cm deep. All you have to do is to fill the pot with loose compost.
Following the filling process, the best seed should be planted narrowly across the topsoil and covered with 0.75 inches of compost.
Then, when the seed reaches 2 cm in height, remove the weak seedlings to give the flourishing plants a space to grow.
There should be a space of 5 inches between each seed that is already planted.
Nurturing Beetroot Plants
The following are steps to take to nurture your beetroots and plant them.
1) Thinning: When your beetroot has 1 inch of leaves springing forth, slice the weakest seedling until the plants are 10cm apart. Do not make the mistake of pulling them with your hand because they can affect the roots of other plants.
2) Watering: For your germination process to be successful, you must water your seed properly. The roots of the beet will sap enough moisture from the soil once this is done.
When I said water, it does not mean you should excessively water your plants. This is because, when you excessively water your beetroot, it will flourish more on the leaves than on the root. There will also be an increased chance of encountering bolts in your garden.
There must be even watering because underwatering also causes woody roots. It is advisable to water 10–14 in dry spells, which means in inconsiderate weather.
3) Cautious of birds and weeds
Based on the location of your garden, you need to proffer a method of eliminating birds and weeds on your farm. As for weeds, you don’t need a machine to perform this task.
You can pull out the weeds with your hands to avoid damaging the beets in the process weeding.
Avoid making use of a hoe or any sharp equipment near the roots of the plant because, unknowingly, you might cut the root and that will be a total disaster.
Pulling the weeds with your hand is the best option to take. You can put on your gardening gloves to avoid injury.
Harvesting Beetroots
When you start visibly seeing the roots of your plants, it is then that you have an idea about the size of your beet.
When you discover that the size of your beetroot is like an orange, tennis ball, or golf ball, then know that your beetroot is ready for harvest.
Once they are too large, they won’t be sweet, but once they are moderate in size, then you know you are harvesting a tasty and nourishing beetroot.
They are ready for harvesting eight weeks after planting. The beetroot, with a diameter of 7.5cm, has the best taste.
Leave a Few Beetroots in the Soil
If you want, you can decide to leave a few beetroots in the soil until the next germination process. All you have to do is cover it with a reasonable mulch of straw.
Note that the weather conditions must not go below 18 degrees Celcius or zero degrees Fahrenheit. Without mincing words, leaving your beetroot in the soil can cause your beetroot to develop a woody texture.
When harvesting, do not cut the leaves, but instead twist them gently for easy harvest. This will help you prevent beetroot bleeding. Once your beetroot begins to bleed, just keep in mind that you are harvesting an unsweetened beet.
Conclusion
Growing beetroots according to the ordinary stages will help you have a good harvest. Once you cut off the leaves, it does not mean you should throw them away.
Some farmers preserve them, cook them, and eat them like normal vegetables, just the way we eat spinach.
Reference
- Plant Growth of Beetroots (Beta vulgaris L.) with Nitrogen Supply at Suboptimal Elevations in a Tropical Region
- Beetroot, A Remarkable Vegetable: Its Nitrate and Phytochemical Contents Can be Adjusted in Novel Formulations to Benefit Health and Support Cardiovascular Disease Therapies
