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May 05, 2020 3 min read
Beets are delicious when cooked, raw, or juiced. They're also good for your heart because they contain high levels of fiber and potassium.
You can easily start growing beets in your backyard. These tasty red vegetables are easy to grow. Beets are a fast-growing vegetable that can be grown just about anywhere.
When considering how to grow beets in the garden, remember that they do best in home gardens because they don't require much room. Growing beets is done for both the red root and the young greens.
Although beets are known as a root crop, all parts of the beet plant are edible. Tender beet greens can begin being harvested when thinning a row of beets. The most commonly known root beets are red, but golden and striped varieties have made growing beets more popular in recent years.
First and foremost, don't neglect the soil. Since beets are root crops, a light, well-draining soil is best. Rocks, clay, and anything that can interfere with the development of the root should be removed. Beets don't grow well in clay because beets inherit large roots. Hard soil can cause the roots of the beet to be tough. Sandy soil is the best choice.
Beets don't transplant well and are always direct sown from seed. The beet seed in packets is really clumps of 4-6 seeds. You can plant the whole clump and thin the seedlings when they get a few inches tall. Or you can try and separate the clumps into individual seeds before planting. The safest way to do this is to gently run a rolling pin over the clumps. Be careful not to crush the seeds. Most gardeners find it easier to simply thin the young greens.
Beet seeds can be slow to germinate, because of their tough outer shell. Soaking the seed clusters overnight will help soften the shell and speed germination.
Beets grow with a portion of the root above ground, so seeds do not need to be planted deeply. 1/2 inch to 1 inch deep is sufficient. Go with 1 inch deep, as the temperature warms, because it will be cooler underground.
Beets are planted only about 2 - 3 inches apart. That's all the space the roots need and when the leaves start growing together, they provide a cooling mulch for the roots. You can plant in rows, wide rows or blocks.
During spring, wait until the soil has warmed and dried out. A soil temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees in Celsius is ideal. Beets can be planted in succession every 3 weeks, for a longer harvest. If you plant beets during fall, beet seeding can begin again once nighttime temperatures begin cooling off. Be sure you leave about 1 month before your first expected frost, from your last seeding.
You can start harvesting the beet greens when they are a couple of inches tall. The greens are most tender before they reach 6 inches long. They are ready to harvest when they are approximately 1 ½ - 2 inches in diameter. Larger roots are tougher and more fibrous. It can be done seven to eight weeks after the planting of each group.
When the beets have reached the desired size, gently dig them up from the soil. Beet greens can be harvested as well. Harvest these while the beet is young and the root is small.
Harvest by tugging or digging. Leave at least 1 inch of the stems on the bulb, to avoid bleeding during cooking.
Days to maturity will vary with beet variety but expect it to be about 55 days, from seed. A mature plant size will depend on the variety you grow and at what stage you harvest. But on average beetroots grow 1 ½ - 3 inches in diameter. Leaves can spread about 12 inches and grow to about 8 - 12 inches high.
Make sure your beets are free from pests and problems. flea beetles, leaf miners, and aphids may attack the beet leaves, but should not affect the roots. Beets may also catch diseases. Certain leaf spot diseases may affect beets. To avoid problems, grow them in full sun with good air circulation and remove any infected leaves asap.
Beets can be boiled, baked, roasted, or pickled. They're also delicious grated raw into salads. And of course, they are a powerful ingredient of the mighty, Beetroot Pro.
Beetroot Pro® is a premium sports beetroot powder extract for natural cardiovascular support, anti-inflammation, and circulation. A potent nitric oxide vasodilator enhanced with BCAAs, Potassium and Magnesium minerals, and Vitamin B12.
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Source:
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-grow-beets-in-the-home-garden-1403456
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