Let's talk about beets. This vegetable was brought to Russia in the 10th century from Byzantium. He successfully took root on new lands and began to be used as food for people, as well as cattle feed. Later, they learned how to make sugar from it. Each gardener at least once bought beet seeds. The best varieties for open ground are divided into early, mid-ripening and late.
Early species are used raw, in the production of juices. Mid-ripening varieties are used for cooking dishes and canned vegetables. Late hybrids are good for winter storage.
Not all beet seeds give good germination. The best varieties for open ground are popular due to the fact that they provide optimal productivity.
Early beet varieties for open ground
Early species ripen in 50-80 days. Sometimes this interval increases to 100 days. You can enjoy such beets in the middle of summer. At the same time, there are a number of disadvantages:
- short growing season;
- relatively less sugar in the composition, compared with later varieties.
Vegetables of this type are better not to leave for winter storage. Keeping quality is low. For a short period of vegetation, root crops manage to accumulate not so much sugar. That is why they are somewhat inferior in taste to later varieties. At the same time, they are suitable for use throughout the summer and early fall.
The best early varieties are: Single-sprout, Red Ball, Libero, Vinaigrette Marmalade.
Variety Pablo refers to mid-early species.
Mid-season varieties
Ripen in about 110 days. Taste quality of crops is higher than in early varieties. Winter storage is allowed. Experienced gardeners plant them with seedlings. This often turns into a problem for beginners, because during the transfer to the ground there is a risk of damage to the root system. But you can germinate the seeds in advance and after that plant the plants in the soil.
The most popular representatives of mid-season beet species: Detroit, Borshcheva, Incomparable A 463.
Late grades
If in your region there are no early frosts, you can safely plant such crops in open ground. Their growing season is the longest and sometimes reaches 135 days. During this time, root vegetables manage to accumulate a lot of useful substances. In terms of taste, other species do not go with them in any comparison.
Beetroot retains all its qualities for six months. The best varieties: Cylinder, Renova, odnorostkovaya.
Beet seeds - the best varieties for open ground, reviews, specifications
You should pay attention to the reviews of gardeners to find out how to buy beet seeds. The best varieties for open ground give root crops with optimal characteristics. This applies to both appearance and taste.
Among the earliest species, Pablo variety deserves the highest praise from gardeners. There is an opinion that the roots of such beets are smooth and very tasty. They are medium in size. The pulp is dark red, sweet.
Beetroot Action is another popular variety. The pulp is devoid of rings. As you know, it is they who give it rigidity and reduce taste. The hybrid is precocious and incredibly productive. Root crops are excellently stored.
The next best seller among beet seeds is the Rondo variety. Summer residents love her for unpretentiousness. It may seem that culture is completely indifferent to adverse influences. This quality is very important, because in our country frost can occur at any moment. Regarding the soil, vegetables are also undemanding. The specified hybrid, like the previous one, resists all kinds of diseases.
The best varieties of beets for open ground, among which are the last two species, are good because they give the maximum yield in almost any conditions. Root crops are perfectly preserved.
Soil requirements
Among the most unpretentious vegetable crops is beets. The best varieties for open ground usually adapt well to the unstable weather conditions of our country. But in some cases, the result is not entirely successful. How to avoid problems?
Please note that the vegetable does not like both acidic and alkaline soils. After landing under such conditions, it will stop growing quite quickly.
How to understand that the soil is acidic? The presence of horsetail or sorrel in it is direct evidence of this. But do not despair! Just before planting, add per kilogram of land per kilogram of wood ash or freshly slaked lime.
The intake of lime provides the plant with such a rare trace element as boron. Beets are susceptible to its deficiency.
In general, the appearance of culture can tell a lot. Suppose, if you see redness on the leaves, this indicates a lack of manganese and magnesium. If the soil contains little iron, chlorosis is noted. Young shoots turn yellow with this disease.
We select the best varieties for the Moscow region
We list the best beet varieties for the Moscow region. Open ground requires a careful approach. In this zone, such varieties are successfully grown as:
- Detroit;
- Egyptian
- Bordeaux;
- Barguzin.
All of these are early varieties.
Residents of the Moscow region also often grow mid-season hybrids:
- Mulatto;
- Cold-resistant-19;
- Incomparable.
Among the late varieties, there are also the best beet varieties for the Moscow region. Open ground is used for planting the following crops:
- Ataman;
- Torpedo;
- Single shoot.
Beet seeds - the best varieties for open ground in the Urals (list)
Ural soils have specific features. That is why experts recommend planting only certain varieties here. This will ensure maximum yield.
The list of varieties:
- Crimson ball. One of the newest types of beets. Mid-season hybrid. Root crops have a spherical shape. The pulp is juicy, tasty and has a rich shade.
- Albina Veroduna. White grade. Especially popular in Western Europe. The tops are also edible. True, you have to pre-boil it. Taste is high.
- Bikores. It differs in an even form. Mid-season grade. Root crops - burgundy. It has sugar flesh that does not contain rings.
How to plant beet seeds?
In stores today, a wide assortment contains beet seeds. The best varieties for open ground are also among them. It is necessary to give preference to just such hybrids, if you want to get vegetables with high taste.
However, it is not enough to select seeds. They must also be properly planted. The main step in this regard is the preparation of beds. Be sure to dig and loosen the soil. The earth should be soft. Seeds are sown in early May. By that time, the soil manages to warm up properly. In addition, we must not forget that at night the temperature drops. Beets do not tolerate this.
Seeds often stick together in small lumps and are able to produce several sprouts at the same time. If you come across such material, you will have to carefully thin it out later.
Chipped seeds can also sometimes be found on sale.
Want a faster seed germination? Soak them for several days in water and wrap in gauze. Better soak it in advance with the nutrient solution sold in stores. As soon as you notice white tips on the surface, carefully plant them in open ground.
On prepared beds for this purpose, make small furrows. Place seeds in them so that they are at a distance of 6 centimeters from each other.
Furrows are recommended to be moistened if the seeds were germinated at the time of planting. Thanks to this, it will be possible to eliminate the drying of the sprouts.
Lighting is important. To make it optimal, it is recommended to choose the direction from south to north when conducting furrows on the site. Please note that the aisles should be made wide.
Beet Care
Thinning
It is carried out after the first three leaves appear on the seedlings. If this is not done, you will get small root crops. They will continue to grow slowly. Re-thinning is required after half a month.
Top dressing
The first time it is produced after the emergence of seedlings. Take water in which mineral fertilizers are previously dissolved. It is watered by crops.
Leaf dressing has worked well. However, do not forget that beets accumulate nitrates. These substances are formed in large quantities with an excess of nitrogenous fertilizers.
The soil should contain enough potassium and phosphorus. In total, 3 top dressings are required during the period of active growth. Manure is not recommended because it contains too much nitrogen. Fertilizing stops with the onset of August.
Among the most popular vegetables in our kitchen is beets. The best varieties for open ground, undersized and large-fruited, surpass the rest in all respects.
Have you ever thought about how important the quality of seeds is? Then it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve the results that gardeners with experience can boast of.
Listen to the tips in this article and buy only the best varieties!