Tried and Tested Tips for Growing Beets in your Garden
Beta vulgaris is the biological name of beets. Beets are nutritious from the leaves and the roots, they are an excellent source of antioxidants and minerals. People with anemia are also suggested to take beetroot for the better blood process in the body. Beets have a high amount of vitamin C. Beets are very healthy for the heart as they contain betaine. Beets can be consumed in many different ways.
Nowadays beet chips are going viral and people are loving them. You can consume beet raw in salads aur cook them. Beet pickles are also very popular. In this article we will explore the growing process of beets. As compared to other vegetables, beets are complicated to grow. It is said that the home grown beets are more tasty than the other beets that you find in the market.
What are the Types of Beets:
First let’s have on the types of the beets. You can grow beet from a root which you can easily find at a vegetable store. There are alot of shades in beets such as, red, yellow, white and black. Even beets can be grown just like carrots.
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Chioggia Beets:
Chioggia beet is a heirloom type beet, having red outside with some fun from inside with some red and white stripes and circles. Just like a peppermint. These beets are also known as bullseye’s beet or candy stripes.
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Detroit Dark Red Beets:
This is the classic beet, best for raw eating but when fresh. Canning and pickling is also recommended due to its great taste. The dark red colour in these beets are due to “Betanin”, this presents any DNA damage in the body.
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Golden Beets:
It is also known as “Burpee Golden”, with a very pretty yellow and orange colour. The planting of these beets is quite complicated. They are sweeter in taste and less earthy as compared to other types of the beets.
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Mini Ball Beets:
These beets are mostly grown in containers as they are individual-size beets.
Tips for Growing Beets:
Here are some tried and tested tips for growing beets. These beets grow in many different sizes, shapes, colours and even in different tastes. We will explore some tips for how to grow beets. Beets are also known as super food.
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Consider Right Timing for Plantation:
Choosing a right time for the seed to grow is very crucial in case of beets. Beets can grow in any climate, but for the places with lower temperatures consider planting beets one month prior to the last spring. The temperature of the soil should be about 50 degree fahrenheit. Plant beets in rounds, plant one round at the end of the summer seasons, for example in months of June to September. Pick one month according to your convenience. For hot climate areas, consider colder months to plant beets for better growth.
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Grow Different Varieties of the Beets:
We have discussed different types of the beets above, every beet has its own quality. We have discussed some other types, such as;
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Forono Beets:
These beets are cylindrical in shape and they want a deep soil for a well growth due to their tapered roots. The dirt from the earth scattered around the crown of these beets when they grew up.
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Red Ace Beets:
Red aces are also known as early beets, as they are harvested at an early age when they are just baby beets. It is nutritious from both leaves and roots. There beets grow up in clusters.
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Location of Plantation Matters:
Beets love to grow in cool temperatures, as they need at least 6 hours of sun everydays. So choose the location for the beets carefully by keeping their demands in mind. Deep and loose soil is beet friendly and they grow there well. If you have a shallow and heavy soil then change the type of the beet, such as opt for a smaller and rounded type of the beet for such soils.
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Choose Companions of the Beets Carefully:
Opt for the vegetable that takes nutritions from the upper layer of the soil, unlike them beets nourishes itself from the deep areas of the soil. For example, kohlrabi. Onions and bush beans are also good companions of beets to grow up with. Also, here is a tip to avoid the soil in which spinach and swiss chards are grown previously.
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How to Grow Beets in a Proper Way:
Every seed of the beet consists of at least 6 seeds. Soaking up the seed before planting is recommended to increase the germination percentage. Plant each seed at the length of 2 to 4 inches apart and make sure they are 1 inch deep. When the seedlings become 2 to 3 inches tall, thin them. Do this process carefully (specially when they are young) and use the green part in salads. To make the process of harvest in a circle, consider planting seed every week.
- Start growing beets indoors and use many seeds at the same time.
- Planting each seed 3 inches apart is recommended for a nice growth.
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Take Care of the of the Beets while Growing:
Beets grow better in cold weather, so consider cold months according to your area and climate. Dry soil is not good for the growing beets. Use mulch to cool down the temperature of the soil in summer days and months. To prevent discolouration of the beets, water them regularly. Watering also keeps the beets tender. Use row covers to prevent any plant insects. Remove the damaged leaves with time. Do not use any fertilizer in the growing season of beets.
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Beets Tastes Best at Young Age:
Make sure to harvest the greens of the beets when they are ;large enough and ready to use. A beet is ready to harvest when it is 1 inch in diameter. The texture of beets become woody when they are left in the soil for a longer period of time. Do not separate the roots from the stem as it will start bleeding and the moisture is drained out. Use the twisting method instead of cutting to prevent bleeding.
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Make Use of All Parts of the Beets:
Do not waste any part of the beet. Use thinning of the beets in salads, they are heavenly in taste. The greens of the beets can be used fresh or by sauteing them. These greens can be used similarly to the other green vegetables such as spinach. Beets can be used roasted in oven style, steamed or fried. Beet juice is very popular. If you want to keep beets for a longer time, canned the beets or make pickles of them.
A Tip: Store the beets in a plastic bag after harvesting for a longer shelf life.
FAQ’s:
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What is the secret to growing beets?
Growing greens of the beet in partial shade and roots in full sun is the secret of growing beets. Mix organic material in the soil to better growth.
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How long do beets take to grow?
Beets take approximately 50 to 70 days to grow perfectly, from the day of planting.
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How many beets will I get from one plant?
Each plant gives only 1 beet out of it. However, a single beet seed can grow multiple beet plants out of it.
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Do beets grow better in sun or shade?
Beets prefer growing in the sun, the green love to grow in partial seeds. The roots of the beets need full sun.
