Beta vulgaris

Cultivation

It is usually sown directly to its regular spot, or for seedlings.

Distance between plants

At least 30 cm (12 in) between rows and at least 5 cm (2 in) between plants in a row.

Location

Sunny.

Amount

Approx. 20 plants per person.

Time of planting

April to June. Shade when sowing in summer. It germinates in 6 to 14 days.

Fertilization

With home compost. It needs a lot of potassium, less phosphorus and even less nitrogen. Avoid barn manure. It is sensitive to the lack of boron. Add comfrey brew or wood ash.

Watering

When it germinates, the soil should be moist. Afterwards it doesn’t need much water. Water rarely, but 30 cm (12 in) deep. You can water over the leaves, but only in the morning. Use organic mulch; comfrey is best.

Beetroot’s good neighbors

Onion, black radish, chives, beans, kohlrabi, cucumbers, parsnip, parsley, lettuce, sweet corn.

Beetroot’s bad neighbors

Spinach.

Diseases and pests

Lice, nematodes, grey mould, flea beetle. Don’t use barn manure and don’t add nitrogen. Use organic mulch.

Beetroot’s storage

Pick young plants. Remove the leaves and store in sand in a cool and moist basement. Be careful not to damage the root.

Food

Use the leaves and the root. The leaves can be eaten like spinach. The root can be pickled or baked in the oven like young potatoes. It contains the red anthocyanin, amino acids and some rare minerals (cesium, strontium, cobalt).

Important

If you planted too densely, you can thin the plants out. Long rows give higher yield in the same sized area.

Miscellaneous

It is very good for anemia. It grows well in half-shade. It is related to Swiss chard.