| Botanical name | Beta vulgaris var. esculenta |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Semi Frost Hardy Semi Frost Hardy – Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Beetroot |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Sow seed about 10 by 20 cm apart in shallow drills 10 to 20mm deep. The best time to sow is from September to March. |
| Maintenance | Beetroot is very sensitive to a deficiency of boron, which causes black patches and split roots. Use commercial borax at a rate of 50g/10m2 applied with fertilizer to rectify this problem. |
| Fruit | Crimson Globe yields very sweet crimson fruits; Detroit Dark Red gives round, dark red fruits; Globe Dark Red has excellent heat tolerance, good colour and taste. |
| Soil conditions | Grow in compost-enriched soil. Dont grow beetroot in freshly manured soil as this tends to cause the plants to produce misshapen and forked roots. |
| Uses | Beetroot is a popular salad, pickling and roasting vegetable. The foliage (leaves) can also be cooked in the same way as spinach. |
| Interesting planting ideas | Plant near African marigolds, bush beans, cabbages, calendulas, cauliflower, kohlrabi, larkspur, leeks, lettuces, onions and parsley. |
| Interesting info | The Beetroot seed consists of a cluster of two to four true seeds. When it germinates, it appears as if two or four seedlings grow from one seed. Beetroot is quite adaptable to different climatic regions and can be grown for most months of the year, although it is mainly a cool-season crop. Beetroot is very sensitive to a deficiency of boron. |
| Possible problems | Beetroot is very sensitive to a deficiency of boron. |
| Common pests and diseases | Cutworm may attack seedlings. Fungal leaf spot during wet weather. |
| Harvest | The roots are ready for the table about 9-10 weeks after sowing, or as soon as they are the size of a golf ball. To prevent bleeding during cooking, which results in loss of colour, leave about 50mm of stalk on the root when you cut off the rest of the plant. |
Beta vulgaris var. esculenta (Beetroot)
- Botanical name: Beta vulgaris var. esculenta
- Common name(s): Beetroot
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
Beetroot is a popular salad, pickling and roasting vegetable. The foliage (leaves) can also be cooked in the same way as spinach. Beetroot is quite adaptable to different climatic regions and can be grown for most months of the year, although it is mainly a cool-season crop.
Family: Amaranthaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: BET-uh vul-GAIR-iss
Beta vulgaris var. esculenta requirements and features
info on these icons
Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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