Beetroot

Question 1

Explain site and soil requirements for growing beetroot.

Answer 1

• Do not grow on freshly-manured ground
• Well-drained, fertile soil
• pH of 6.5 - 7.5
• Open, sunny site.

Question 2

Explain the sowing of beetroot.

Answer 2

• Soak seed in water for an hour prior to sowing (mostly older cultivars)
• Sow very thinly in 13mm deep, V-shaped drill
• Rows 30cm apart
• Sow direct in ground from March to June (at fortnightly intervals)
• Soil temperature of at least 7C required
• Germination can be slow and erratic in cold springs.

Question 3

Explain the cultivation of beetroot.

Answer 3

• Plants should be thinned to between 5cm and 10cm, depending on size of beets
• Hoe ground regularly
• Don’t overdo watering as this encourages leaf production, but water enough to avoid bolting.

Question 4

Explain harvesting and storing of beetroots.

Answer 4

• Early sowings can be harvested from May to July
• Leaves are twisted or cut off
• Maincrops harvested in August (autumn)
• Store in boxes of sand in frost-free building, as for carrots.

Question 5

Name a pest and a disease of beetroots, including symptoms and control methods.

Answer 5

Aphids

• Colonies of aphids on plant
• Encourage predators like hoverflies; squash; plant attractants like calendula; jet off with water.

Violet Root Rot

• Funal disease
• Leaves yellow and stunted, roots covered in purple felty mass
• Remove plants and do not compost; improve drainage and raise pH; avoid growing susceptible cultivars.

Question 6

Name three cultivars of beetroot.

Answer 6

• ‘Pablo’
• ‘Solo’
• ‘Cylindra’.