Beetroot is a turnip plant that is closely related to Swiss chard. Here are some important tips for successfully growing beets in the garden.
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva) belong, exactly like the chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) and the spinach (Spinacia oleracea), to the family of the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae).
The beetroot was originally found on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. Nowadays, however, it has become native throughout Central Europe. It is a robust, versatile vegetable that is rarely attacked by pests. The tuber can already be harvested in the first year. However, the beetroot only develops its seeds in the second year. The size of the bulb ranges from a glass marble to a tennis ball. Their shape varies from spherical to cylindrical. In the old beetroot varieties, the tuber is red throughout and you can even see this color in the leaves. What many do not know: the leaves can also be used in the kitchen. They are prepared in much the same way as spinach. The colors of the newer beetroot varieties range from orange to yellow to white or red and white ringed.
Beetroot require little care and are therefore also suitable for newcomers to vegetable and raised bed cultivation. The tuber contains a lot of iron and folic acid and is also rich in vitamin B.
Growing beetroot: seeds and choice of location
If you want to grow beetroot yourself, you have to find a suitable location in addition to selecting the seeds.
Beetroot: the right location
The beetroot plants are quite frugal. They like a sunny spot, but thrive just as well in partial shade. The garden soil should be improved with a light, well-drained layer of humus. Consistent moisture is very important throughout growth.
Would you like a “good neighbor” in the vegetable patch forIf you choose beetroot, then you should opt for onions, beans, cucumbers or cabbage. Potatoes, on the other hand, are less suitable because they spread very widely in the soil and quickly deprive the soil of nutrients.
The dear relatives chard and spinach should also not be planted in the neighboring bed. They don't get along very well and are hotbeds for host-specific diseases.
Sowing and transplanting beetroot: Instructions
1. Sowing beets: The procedure
Once you have decided on a variety and a location, it's time to sow. So that the relatively hard beetroot seeds germinate faster, you can soak them in water for a few hours before sowing. Outdoors, they are then planted about 2 to 3 cm deep in the ground. A distance of 10 cm should be observed in the row. There can be a good 25 cm between the individual rows. The germination period is 12 to 14 days.
2. Sowing: the right time
You can sow the seeds as early as mid/end of April. Plants that have suffered frost very early have an extreme tendency to shoot (generative growth rather than tuber formation). It is therefore advisable to protect the beds with straw or fleece during late spring frosts. If you want to be on the safe side, sow in June.
3. Prefer beets
You can also prefer the beetroot in the planter and put them in the open air bed in June. In this way you avoid the risk of frost and have the bed area in the garden available for other types of vegetables until then.
4. Beetroot: separate and prick
So that the seedlings don't hinder each other's growth or even die, you have to prick them out in good time. Pricking out means transplanting seedlings that are too close together. You separate them by carefully removing them and planting them again at larger intervals.
You can also use a pricking stick to carefully pry the plant out of the ground. It is essential to ensure that the still fine roots are not damaged. With sufficient distance to the next plant, the seedling is placed back in a prepared hole in the ground. Then use a watering can with a hair spray to pour it carefully but well. If you look carefully at the plantspricked, then they have a good chance of continuing to thrive.
Beetroot: the different varieties
In the following we present five popular beetroot varieties. You can find an even larger selection here.
- Red ball: a tried and tested variety with a typical round ball (red variety)
- Early Wonder Tall Top: this early variety is characterized by particularly tender leaves (red variety)
- Egyptian Flat Round: very old variety; flat round; fast-growing (red variety)
- Boldor: yellow flesh; much sweeter than the red-fleshed varieties, but mild in taste (yellow/orange variety)
- Tonda di Chioggia: good growth; red and white flesh (red and white or light variety)
The red varieties of beetroot usually have a more earthy taste than the lighter varieties. However, they are ideal for further processing as raw food or for cooking, roasting and canning. If you don't want the beetroot to color all the other ingredients with its intense juice when you're processing it, then it's better to choose a lighter variety. By the way, you can find information about yellow beets in this article.
Care for beetroot properly: Water and fertilize
It is very important that the beetroot is constantly watered so that the deeper roots also get water. This can be necessary every day during the hot season. However, waterlogging should be avoided so that the roots are not covered with a rotting disease and the plant can then no longer nourish themselves.
Fertilization of the beetroot is not absolutely necessary. If the sowing soil is nutrient-rich, that is completely sufficient. If the soil is not so nutrient-rich, then you usually need a single fertilization. Green manure is recommended here. Ideally, this should take place in early autumn, so timely planning is important. However, you should avoid using nitrogenous fertilizers because of the high nitrate content. If you want to do something more for the plants, you can use an organic vegetable fertilizer, such as our Potassium-rich Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. Carefully loosening or hoeing the soil also promotes tuber growth.
Harvest beetroot: timing and procedure
Three to fourMonths after sowing, beets can be harvested. You have to be careful when harvesting. The fruit must not be injured, otherwise it will quickly rot. Gently twist the leaves. In your own garden you should, if possible, gradually harvest the vegetables as you need them. However, all tubers should be harvested before the first frost. If you would like to enjoy small, tender beetroots, you can eat them before the first three months are up.
when harvesting
Store beetroot correctly
Proper storage of beetroot is very important. An ideal storage location is a cool, not too dry cellar. You can also overwinter them in damp sand or damp soil in a wooden box.
You can find more about the correct harvest and storage of beetroot here.
Preserving beetroot
Beetroot is one of the he althiest vegetables and should not be missing in any garden or kitchen. It is therefore advisable to always have a diverse supply of the he althy tubers in the house. We give tips on how you can benefit from this supply for a long time.
- For very large harvest:
Temporary storage in a dark cellar in damp earth or damp sand
- Freeze beetroot:
- Steaming
- Peel
- Roll
- Let cool
- Freeze
- Beetroot:
Steam, peel and dice (like freezing); then pickle with vinegar, oil and spices
- Preserving beetroot:
- Steam, peel, dice
- Prepare brew
- portion cubes (in mason jars); Pour the stock on the glasses
- Close the jars and boil for approx. 45 minutes
Beetroot or Beetroot?
Everyone knows the red-fleshed root vegetable, after all, beetroot is a classic in the home kitchen. But no matter how well known it is, the question always arises as to how to spell it correctly: "Beetroot" or "Beetroot"?
After the spelling reform, only the "red" has been changed to "red" and both forms of "bete/beete" are still valid. "Bete" is derived from the Latin "beta" for "turnip" and "beets" can be associated with the bed in the garden andthe special suitability of the beetroot for beet edging.
Did you know that planting different plants next to each other can bring great benefits? In this article you will find all the information you need for a successful mixed culture.