How is beet planting in the spring? To answer this question, you need to learn more about the optimal timing and methods of planting a crop. You will learn about this, as well as preparation for sowing and the rules for caring for plants, when you familiarize yourself with this article.
Spring beet planting time in different regions of Russia
The germination of crops is influenced by climatic conditions and soil temperature, which should not fall below +6 degrees.
Therefore, there are frameworks for different latitudes:
- South. You can start work in early April.
- The middle lane. It is better to wait until the second half of April or early May.
- North. Beets are rarely sown earlier than mid-May.
What is important to consider when choosing a variety for planting?
Particular attention is paid to the maturity:
- Early ripening. Harvested after 50-80 days after emergence.
- Mid-season. Fruits are formed in 80-100 days.
- Late. It takes 100 or more days for the vegetables to finish.
Other parameters:
- The form. It happens round, elongated, cylindrical, oblate.
- Destination For food use only table beets. For livestock fodder is grown. In order to obtain sugar, root crops of the same type are planted.
Presowing events
Proper preparation for planting beets is the key to obtaining a good harvest. The main types of work that should be carried out are described below.
Seat selection
Must meet the criteria:
- The soil. Loose, nutritious, with a neutral level of acidity. Avoid areas where groundwater lies close to the surface.
- A place. Well lit throughout the day. Do not place the garden in the shade of trees. A moisture source should be nearby. If the terrain is swampy, crops are elevated.
- Crop rotation. Suitable precursors are onions, garlic, potatoes. Seeding after beets, tomatoes, carrots is negatively reflected.
- Neighborhood. Planted next to the beds of carrots, radishes, cucumbers.
Seed treatment
The following activities are carried out:
- Sorting. Remove empty and small. This can be done with the help of an electrified wand, which will attract defective seeds to itself. Another option is to lower it into a glass of water and remove the pop-ups.
- Soak. Put the material in water at a temperature of about 30-35 degrees. You can add a growth stimulator. For example, mix 1 tbsp. l wood ash with 1 liter of water. Wait 1 day. For more convenient extraction, pre-wrap the seeds in a lightweight cloth.
- Germination. Wrap the seeds with a layer of wet gauze and put them in a container with sawdust. Cover with glass. Avoid drying the fabric and keep the temperature between 20-22 degrees. Wait 4-6 days. This method allows to increase the germination of seeds and remove non-viable in advance. You can also use napkins or cotton.
Additionally, can be carried out:
- Hardening. Helps make seeds more resistant to lower temperatures. Wrap them in a cloth and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Seed must be dry.
- Disinfection. Prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate and lower the seeds into it for 1-2 hours.
If the material is purchased in a store, then it does not need additional processing.
Soil preparation in autumn and spring
Under the winter, they dig up the site and make fertilizers.
The composition of the fertilizer depends on the type of soil:
- Clayey. Use ripe sawdust, humus or peat.
- Sour. Add dolomite flour or wood ash.
- Loamy. For each sq. m distribute 300 g of potash fertilizer.
In the spring, the work is as follows:
- Cleaning. Remove debris and weeds from the area.
- Digging up. The soil is loosened and leveled.
- Top dressing. Fertilizer based on nitrogen.
Sowing seeds in open ground
Instruction:
- with a chopper or shovel, make grooves up to 3 cm deep;
- water the soil well with warm water, wait until the liquid is absorbed;
- spread the seeds at a distance of 4-10 cm from each other, depending on the size of future root crops;
- sprinkle with soil, tamp a little;
- water again;
- mulch with sawdust or peat.
There are 4 main methods of sowing, the differences of which are in the arrangement of rows:
- Lowercase The grooves are placed at an equal distance from each other. About 20-25 cm.
- Tape. The gaps between the grooves are reduced, but at the same time leave large passages - about 50 cm.
- Ready ranks. You can purchase a special tape on which beet seeds are placed at an optimal distance. They need only be deepened into the soil and well watered.
- Joint landing. Rows of beets can alternate with other crops - beans, lettuce, and beans. The main thing is to take care of the convenience of care.
Planting beets seedlings
This option is more suitable for residents of the northern regions. Also, it can be used by those who want to get a crop 2-3 weeks earlier.
Further, the main features of the method.
Seeding for seedlings
What is needed for this:
- Priming. Buy it in a specialty store or do it yourself. To do this, mix 1 part humus and garden soil, add 2 parts peat and 0.5 sand. For every 5 kg of mixture add 100 g of ash.
- Capacity. It is allowed to grow in combined containers or separate cells.
You can use egg trays to separate crops. Holes are made in them, in each of which 1 seed is put.
The steps are as follows:
- fill the container with soil, tamp well;
- with the help of tweezers, spread the seeds at a distance of 3-4 cm;
- cover with a layer of earth about 1 cm thick;
- water;
- cover with clear glass;
- clean on a well-lit window sill.
Seedling Care
Fundamental rules:
- Temperature. Before emergence - within 16-18 degrees. After - reduce to 14-16.
- Pick It is carried out in heap crops at the stage of cotyledon leaves.
- Top dressing. It is carried out every 2 weeks using ready-made fertilizer store.
- Watering. Necessary as the soil dries.
Planting seedlings in open ground
Plants are transplanted when they have 3-4 real leaves. Desired soil temperature is about 10 degrees. The ideal weather is light drizzle so that the earth and air are sufficiently moist.
How does this happen:
- make holes along the length of the root;
- plant plants at a distance of about 5-10 cm from each other;
- if the weather is dry, water the sprouts well;
- cover with non-woven fabric for 2-3 days to protect the seedlings.
For better growth, the central root is shortened by one third before planting.
Spring Care for Planted Beets
You need to properly take care of the crops in order to get a rich harvest.
Thinning
Such a procedure is necessary even in cases when the optimal distance between the seeds was observed. Weaker and smaller shoots are removed. Before removing plants, the soil is well moistened for easier extraction.
It is carried out several times:
- Phase 2 of these leaflets. The distance between plants becomes 2-3 cm.
- Stage 4 leaves. The interval increases to 4-6 cm.
- Setting root crops. Leave about 10-15 cm.
Watering
Basic information:
- Frequency. After the emergence of seedlings, beets need regular abundant watering, so that the plants take root better. Then, the frequency is reduced to 1-2 times a week. In the heat you need to moisten more often - 3-4 times a week.
- The way. Root crops take sprinkling best, but manual or drip irrigation is possible.
- Water. It should be settled, room temperature.
- Amount. Adult plants require about 10-15 liters per square meter. m. The penetration of liquid into the soil is normally 15-20 cm.
20-30 days before harvesting, irrigation is stopped so that root crops accumulate sugar.
Weed control, cultivation
Loosen the earth around the beets regularly after each watering, otherwise a crust may form, which will interfere with active growth. While the sprouts are still small, use an old fork. Usually, together with loosening the soil weed from weeds. Reducing the need for a procedure will help spraying with kerosene. Requires 100 ml per 1 sq. m
Top dressing
Spend 2 times per season:
- Phase 4 sheets. It is carried out after transplantation into the ground. Use 1 kg of mullein per 10 liters of water. Insist 10 days. Then dilute another 10 liters of liquid.
- A month later. Apply 1 tbsp. l of chloride and superphosphate mixed with 1 bucket of water. This amount is enough for 1 square. m
Pest and disease control
For beets pose a threat:
- Phomosis. A boron solution is used. Contribute 3 g per 10 l of water.
- Spotting. Feeding is carried out using potassium chloride.
- Downy mildew. Seeds are soaked in apron.
From parasites, spraying with onion, garlic, ash infusions helps.
Other planting and growing features
Experienced gardeners adhere to such recommendations:
- Orient to the moon. The optimal time for landing is considered to be waning. But in the full moon, root vegetables do not take root, grow poorly and give a small crop.
- Avoid crop accuracy. Vegetables too close to each other will grow worse and slower. This is due to a lack of moisture and nutrients. If you want to get large beets, observe intervals of at least 10-15 cm.
- Purity. There should be no debris or weeds on the site that interfere with the normal growth of the crop. Weeds also attract parasites that cause irreparable damage to the crop.
- Protection. Beets are very thermophilic, therefore it should be grown at a constant air temperature of about 20 degrees.
- Accommodation Root crops grow better along the edges of the beds.
Beet planting time depends on the region and weather conditions. In total there are 2 methods of planting - seedlings and seeds, each of which has its own advantages. To get a good crop, you need to adhere to the rules of sowing and growing, use the advice of more experienced gardeners.