An unpretentious and productive variety of sweet beets is Bordeaux. The culture grows abundantly and amicably in the conditions of dry warm weather and the absence of prolonged rains, bears fruit with beautiful burgundy root crops for table purposes. They can be immediately eaten or stored until the next season.
Bordeaux Beetroot
Bordeaux beets have a rich color
Bordeaux beets have a juicy and sweet flesh
Description of beet varieties Bordeaux
In 1937, domestic breeders managed to raise burgundy beets for cultivation in the southern regions. Now it is represented by two varieties:
The characteristics of the two varieties of Bordeaux beets can be found in the table:
Parameter | Description |
Ripening time | Bordeaux 237 is a mid-early variety that ripens in warm conditions for 80-95 days, and in cool conditions for 110-115 days. Bordeaux single-seeded is its more precocious version, so the average growing season before harvesting is 60-65 days. |
Cultivation regions | This variety of beets is heat-resistant, therefore, grows well in the fields and gardens in the conditions of the hot, long summer season. In this regard, it is better to cultivate it in the warm regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and other CIS countries. Meanwhile, a good harvest can also be obtained in the middle zone of the Russian Federation, where there is a temperate continental climate. In such conditions, Bordeaux will withstand short droughts, cold and temperature changes. |
Leaf socket | The plant grows in a dense bush with dark pink or burgundy long stalks. The leaf outlet turns out to be semi-upright and medium in size, but it looks compact. The leaves themselves are wide, oval and with wavy rims. In length, they reach 35-40 cm. The leaf plate has a glossy and slightly bubbly surface, dark green color, diluted with pronounced red veins, painted with anthocyanins. The leaves of the plant are suitable for consumption. They can be collected as they grow. The best taste is possessed by young herbs. |
Roots | Bordeaux 237 bears fruit by large root crops weighing an average of 250-500 g, but Bordeaux single-seeded will delight with smaller heads weighing up to 150-230 g. Otherwise, these varieties have no differences and their root crops with thin small roots can be recognized by these parameters:
The smallest root crops, which are formed in the middle and end of July, are also suitable for eating. They can be used for cooking any dishes and boiled. Boiled beets not only retain their rich color, but also the pleasant juiciness of the pulp. |
Seeds | Beet seeds are large (2-4 mm), have the shape of a polyhedron and a dark brown color. They are enclosed in a dry box, and their surface is covered with caverns. Seeds can be prepared independently or purchased at a garden store. Planting stock should not be stored for longer than 2 years as a standard. |
Productivity | The amount of harvest is dependent on specific weather conditions. The formation of root crops will be slowed down by cold, wet summers with low temperatures. On average with 1 square. m beds can be obtained from 4 to 8 kg of root crops buried to half in the soil. When grown on an industrial scale, the yield is from 70 to 90 tons per 1 ha. A distinctive feature of this beet is that in the southern regions it is able to produce crops several times a year. |
Keeping | Thanks to the dense skin, root crops can be stored for 6 months or more. They can be transported without the risk of loss of commercial quality. |
Disease resistance | Bordeaux beets are poorly resistant to peronosporosis and cercosporosis. |
Sowing dates
When sowing seeds directly into the open ground, work can be done at different times of the year:
- In the spring. To get an early harvest, in the southern regions sowing can be done from mid to late April, when the soil warms up to + 9-10 ° C in the daytime. Optimum air temperature - not lower than + 5 ° C. With this sowing, root crops will be suitable for harvesting in July.
If the vegetable is planned to be laid for long-term storage, it is better to sow the seeds at the end of May. Ripe beets will be able to get in August. - Summer. For better preservation of root crops, seeds can be sown in June. They can be harvested in the fall.
- Autumn (winter sowing). Bordeaux beets can be sown before winter to get an early harvest, although ripened root crops will not have good keeping quality. The best time for sowing is in October or early November before the onset of frost and at a soil temperature of at least -5 ° C. Such a planting should be mulched with needles and sawdust.
The best temperature for active beet growth is + 22 ° C, although seedlings can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -2 ° C. In the case of prolonged cold weather, they will stop growing and die.
In addition to direct sowing in the soil, Bordeaux beets can be cultivated by seedlings. It will allow you to get an earlier harvest, although root crops will not be unsuitable for storage until next season.
In a greenhouse, seeds can be sown for seedlings in mid-March, and in greenhouses in late March or early April. In May, when the soil warms up to + 10 ° C, the sprouts can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Site selection and soil preparation
Bordeaux beets are demanding on the place of cultivation, so when choosing it, you should definitely consider the following rules:
- The sowing area should be well lit and warmed up by the sun, as half of the vegetable, when ripe, is above the surface of the earth and needs heat to actively develop and gain sugar content. Shading and drafts are not allowed.
- Deep groundwater is desirable.
- At the same place, a vegetable can be grown for no more than 4 consecutive seasons. It can not be planted after other varieties of beets and cabbage, but good predecessors are:
- potatoes;
- Tomatoes
- cucumbers.
- The soil should be fertile and loose with a deep arable layer. The acidity of the soil is only slightly expressed or neutral, otherwise the root crops will turn out to be small and fibrous.
A site with suitable parameters needs to be prepared for beets in advance, following this instruction:
- In autumn, sprinkle humus from cow manure or last year's compost on the surface of the plot. You can also pour it with a solution of bird droppings (1:20) and add wood ash at the rate of 3 cups per 1 sq. Km. m. Nitrogen fertilizers need to be applied only in small quantities, since beet root crops tend to accumulate nitrates. After making them, dig the area onto the bayonet of the shovel.
- To introduce complex mineral fertilizers in the spring. Most beets are responsive to potassium chloride and superphosphate. If you want to lower the acidity of the soil, also add dolomite flour.
- After digging, form beds of high or medium height on the plot. Experienced growers also grow Bordeaux beets in ridges formed from the soil.
Planting Material Processing
Before sowing the seeds must be subjected to such processing:
- Sort, leaving equally large instances of them.
- Soak in a weak solution of manganese for several minutes to disinfect and rinse under running water. To increase resistance to cercosporosis, seeds should also be treated with Agat-25K. Apron disinfectant will protect future plantings from downy mildew.
- To stimulate growth, dip the seeds for 12-24 hours in warm water, into which a pinch of soda and 1 teaspoon are added. ash, boric acid and superphosphate.
Before sowing, some gardeners also germinate beet seeds, however, this measure is more justified if they are sown on seedlings, as it will help them hatch faster.
Sowing seeds in the ground
With the arrival of optimal dates, you need to start sowing seeds, following this instruction:
- In the ground, dig furrows 3-4 cm deep at a distance of 6-8 cm. If you plan to sow in rows, keep between 25-30 between them so as not to stub the planting and provide each bush with the proper amount of light.
- In the prepared grooves, pour humus to feed root crops and ash in order to reduce the acidity of the soil. Such manipulations can be skipped if the beds are well prepared.
- Sow the seeds, sprinkle them with earth 3-4 cm and pour water from a watering can. Their optimum consumption is 7-10 g per 1 sq. m
Experienced gardeners prefer to sow Bordeaux along the edges of the beds, which allows more economical use of space on the site. Good neighbors of beets will be:
- Tomatoes
- cucumbers
- garlic;
- salad;
- radish.
These crops do not oppress each other, so their productivity will be at the highest level.
Features planting through seedlings
If you decide to cultivate beets in a seedling method, first of all, you need to grow strong seedlings, which can be done in a snail or ordinary containers with a nutrient soil mixture. In the seedling period, it is desirable to treat the culture with Rovral Aquaflo fungicide for the prevention of cercosporosis.
After 4-5 weeks, when the seedlings grow stronger and acquire several real leaves, they can be transplanted with a lump of land into grooves prepared in advance according to the above scheme. You need to act carefully so as not to damage their delicate roots, otherwise it will negatively affect the formation of root crops.
The first landing time should be obscured so that they quickly adapt to new conditions. In cold weather, you need to cover the seedlings with a spanbond.
Landing care
In no case should beets beetroot, as this will prevent root crops from getting the right amount of solar heat. However, there are a number of agricultural activities that are mandatory.
Watering
Bordeaux beetroot loves moisture, so you need to organize competent watering of the culture according to this scheme:
- Water abundantly at the beginning of the growing season, using the method of sprinkling, drip irrigation or radical saturation with moisture. This event can be performed 1-2 times a week in arid and hot weather. On rainy days with watering, it is better to wait.
- In especially dry periods, water the row daily or once every two days to prevent the soil from drying out, otherwise this will cause the death of germinating seeds or cracking of root crops.
- From the moment of head formation, reduce the frequency of watering to 1 time in 10-14 days.
- At the beginning and end of summer, pour the beets with saline so that the root crops are sweet and can be stored until the next season. To prepare it in 10 l of water, it is enough to dilute 30 g of table salt. If possible, you can use sodium nitrate (50 g per 10 liters of water).
- 3-4 weeks before the expected harvest, completely interrupt the watering of the crop, otherwise the fruits will turn out to be watery.
Thinning
When planting beets with seeds in the ground, you need to regularly thin out strong sprouts. This is best done in the fruit setting phase. Weak plants need to be removed, and strong bushes left on the beds, maintaining between them equal intervals of at least 15-25 cm in length.
Soil treatment
After watering or rains, the garden bed must be carefully loosened with a pitchfork to provide root crops with a sufficient amount of oxygen. At the same time, weed weed must be weeded, otherwise it will suck out too many nutrients from the soil to the detriment of beets.
Top dressing
If you properly feed the culture, then by the end of the growing season you can get large root crops with dense, juicy and moderately sweet pulp. Here is the optimal feeding scheme:
- 2 weeks after sowing, water the seedlings with herbal infusion, which is best prepared in the spring, when the young juicy grass blooms - nettle, clover, dandelion, etc. To prepare the infusion, proceed as follows:
- fill the bathroom or other container by one third with young mowed grass;
- add 5 l of ash, 1 pack of Persian yeast and 1-1.5 l of whey;
- pour water to the edges in the container and mix thoroughly;
- insist the mixture for 2-3 weeks (when the nettle and sweet clover dissolve, the composition will be ready).
The resulting infusion can be used to water the beets 3 times a season, but always in a diluted form - at a rate of 1:10 for sprinkling and 1: 3 for root dressing.
- At the initial stage of development, feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizers. The best option is a mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. You should not overdo it with such fertilizer, otherwise the shock dose of nitrogen will contribute to the rapid development of tops to the detriment of root crops.
- When the leaves begin to close together, feed the beets with calcium nitrate and phosphorus. Sprinkle ash (1/2 cup per 1 sq. M) into the bed and patch it into the soil.
- In August, pour beets with ash infusion, for the preparation of which 1 kg of ash should be soaked for a day in 10 l of water.
Protection against diseases and pests
Bordeaux beet varieties are resistant to many diseases, but the following pathologies are dangerous for them:
- Phimosis (heart rot). Fungal disease, which is dangerous for root crops during winter storage. It appears black spots on the tail and upper parts of the heads. Inside such formations, velvety white rot is visible. So that phimosis does not destroy the entire crop, beets should not be allowed to plant in alkaline soils. If signs of the disease are found, the affected specimens must be discarded and destroyed, otherwise the fungus will also spread to healthy root crops.
- Cercosporosis. The fungus affects beet tops, which are covered with necrotic spots with a red or brown border. Brown blots are visible on the trunks.
Actively, the disease develops in humid weather. As a result, it causes the death of the entire tops and prevents the growth of root crops. Cercosporosis cannot be cured, so all diseased plants will have to be destroyed. - Peronosporosis (downy mildew). Attacks the leaves and peduncles of the plant, causing the formation of gray-violet plaque on the tops. Gradually, the leaves become pale and brittle, twist towards the ground. Then they blacken and die. At the same time, the surface part of the plant rots, and the fruits become smaller, lose their sugar content and become prone to decay during storage. Powdery mildew cannot be cured, so diseased plants will need to be destroyed.
In order to prevent the development of these diseases, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, disinfect the soil and seeds.
Among pests, only the beet pests can affect the garden, among which the main ones are:
- Cicadas. In the fight against them, the ground part of the plant must be treated with contact and systemic insecticides.
- Leaf beetle. Affected leaves need to be cut off and destroyed away from the beds.
- Aphids (leaf, root). From her, Rotenon and Malathion will help.
Harvesting and storage
Harvesting root crops at the scheduled time will not cause any particular problems, since root crops are partially above the ground and are easily pulled out of it if you dig them lightly with a shovel first.
Beets can be stored for 5-6 months without loss of consumer qualities, if kept at a temperature of -1 ... + 2 ° C. At higher temperatures, the vegetable will actively spend moisture, which will become flabby.
The best storage location is a cellar where root vegetables can be kept in boxes with wet sand or in baskets on the floor. Previously, they can be mixed with potato tubers.
A small amount of beets can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time, laying in a compartment for vegetables.
Pros and Cons of Bordeaux Beetroot
The strengths of burgundy beets are as follows:
- good marketability and taste;
- the ability to store for a long time without loss of taste, density and aroma;
- resistance to transportation over long distances;
- resistance to dry and hot weather;
- high yield and almost 100% germination.
As for the shortcomings, gardeners often note the following:
- an unplanned pick of Bordeaux 237, since sometimes 2-3 sprouts form from one seed;
- the need for a large cultivation area to maintain sufficient intervals between plants and allow root crops to grow to the sizes declared by the manufacturer.
Grade Reviews
Dmitry, 29 years old. Among all beet varieties, Bordeaux has long been cultivated. Grows well and gives rounded root crops. The largest of them are immediately consumed, and the rest, if possible, are stored. From this beet, excellent borsch and other “red” warm dishes are obtained, since during heat treatment it does not lose its color. I recommend to everyone!
Elina Vasilievna, 48 years old. My family prefers large beets, which is why traditionally growing Bordeaux. The pulp is dark red with good taste, although I can not say that it is much better than other varieties. The variety tolerates hot summers and does not dry out, which is extremely important for me as a resident of the southern region. In addition, beets are not late, so you do not have to wait long to try fresh vegetable.
Natalya Yuryevna, 51 years old. This year, the harvest quantity was very pleased - I collected 10 kg of neat root crops weighing up to 500 g from 4 small beds. To achieve such results, I advise you to thin out the plants correctly, leaving between about 20 cm.
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In the next video, the gardener will show his bed with Bordeaux beets and tell how to cultivate it properly to obtain large fleshy root crops:
Bordeaux beet is a high bushy crop bearing large root crops. Varieties of this type are resistant to heat and undemanding in care, therefore, are favorites in many gardeners. Root crops can be widely used in cooking or subjected to long-term storage in the cellar until the next season.