The red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a cross-fertilized plant. The root is the edible portion of the plant.
Red beet is a cold-tolerant plant. However, it has higher warmth demands than carrot does. Red beet easily withstands brief frosts of 3°C below zero. Further drop in temperature adversely affects the plants: the apical buds are injured.
Red beet has the highest moisture requirements during germination and rapid leaf and root growth.
Red beet can grow on almost any kind of soil except heavy loam, incrusted soils.
Unlike carrot, red beet tolerates higher salt concentrations but is highly sensitive to acid soils (levels of pH<5 are injurious).
Growing tips
In crop rotation, red beet normally follows legumes, cucumber, potatoes and tomatoes. The sowing is made in spring when the soil warms up to 6-7˚C. When grown for winter storage, red beet is sown in early through mid-June. In this case, it shows longer shelf life, more tender root flesh and better eating qualities.
The planting pattern is 25-30 x 5-8 cm. The depth of seeding is 2-3 cm, and the seeding rate is 7-10 g per 10 m2 (7-10 kg/ha). To obtain a yield of 6-8 kg/m2 (60-80 ton/ha), mineral fertilizers should be applied at a rate of 600 g ammonium nitrate, 750 g superphosphate and 630 g potassium salt per 10 m2 (N 200, P2O5 100-150 and K2O 200-250 kg of active substance per hectare). Two thirds of the phosphorous and potash fertilizers are applied with autumn plowing; the nitrogenous and the balance of the phosphate-potassium fertilizers are applied as supplementary fertilizing. Red beet responds very well to micronutrients, especially boron and manganese. On peat soils, application of copper yields good results. Application of fresh manure results in deterioration of beet root quality. If the soil nutrient status is low and no organic fertilizers were given to the preceding crop, it is good practice, when growing early varieties of red beet, to apply well-rotted manure at a rate of 20-30 ton/ha.
Red beet is attacked by pests such as fleas, aphids, weevils (beetroot weevil) and beet leaf miner. Sprays with Sherpa, Fastac, Karate, Sumi-alpha and other insecticides are used to control these pests.
Important diseases: Downy mildew and Cercospora leaf spot.
Control measures: fungicide sprays (Cuproxat, copper oxychloride or similar chemicals).