Production guidelines

Growing

Beetroot successfully

T
his popular vegetable is a good Climate
choice; it is fairly easy to grow Beetroot is usually grown in cool regions or
and produces a good yield. during the cooler seasons in warm areas.
Beetroot is a close relative of The growing period varies from eight to 11
Swiss chard and sugar beet, and weeks in favourable climatic conditions.
has many health benefits. The young leaves In hot weather the quality is adversely
are tasty, a good source of vitamin A and affected, which is shown by the alternate
can be prepared in the same way as Swiss white and red rings when the beets are
Chard. The beets are rich in vitamin C. sliced. High-quality beets are characterised
by a high sugar content and dark internal
Beetroot is a cool weather crop, but the colour.
hybrid (F1) cultivars available for summer The best planting times for beetroot are
production offer many advantages. spring and autumn, but the vegetables also
do well during summer on South Africa’s
The seed is expensive, but these beets Highveld and winter in the Lowveld.
are worth growing because they are of a The optimum temperature for growth is
better quality, more adaptable to extreme between 15°C and 20°C. Beets are not
high temperatures and so are more uniform particularly sensitive to heat, as long as
in shape, produce greater yields and have there is enough moisture in the soil. Although
better internal colour. tolerant to cold, they grow extremely slowly
in winter.
Hybrids also taste better, especially out of Leaves may be damaged and growth
season. retarded if there is frost before harvesting.
Cold weather might delay maturity and the
tops tend to be smaller.
Direct sowing can result in good germination
Cultivar list at temperatures between 6°C and 24ºC.
Spring and summer: Crimson Globe, Detroit On hot sunny days, high temperatures that
Dark Red, Star 1105, Merlin, Globe Dark develop at, or just below, the soil surface
Red. Summer and winter: Osprey. Winter: might injure young plants badly, or kill them.
Early Wonder. High temperatures for long periods may
not only retard growth and depress yield,
but could also cause an undesirable strong
flavour, concentric rings and a coarse
texture.
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 Hand sow beetroot seeds 2 — 3cm apart in rows 3 — 4cm from each other.

Soil requirements
Sandy to deep, well-drained sandy loam Large-scale farmers obviously use special
or silt loam, high in organic matter, is equipment to make beds.
recommended. Cloddy, stony, poor or very
If you have 1,2m wide beds, six rows or
shallow soils are not suitable. Uniform soil
moisture is essential for good quality. furrows that are 2cm deep would be good
spacing. Start the furrows 10cm from
If the soil is compacted or the clay the side of the seedbed and allow 20cm
content is very high, roots are likely to be between rows. Sow the seed 2 — 3cm
deformed and to develop a tough texture apart and cover the furrows firmly with
that reduces quality. Crops thrive in deep,
the soil from the furrows.
rich sandy loam, with a pH of between 6
and 6,5 (but not below).
Direct sowing
Raised beds It is essential that farmers buy quality seed
Raised beds can increase the effective that has a good germination percentage.
depth of soil, allowing it to drain better, It is very important to establish a fine,
concentrate topsoil around the root zone,
level seedbed when sowing the seed and
and provide more oxygen for healthy
to irrigate lightly a day before sowing. If
root development. Aeration is better, and
disease, infection and the incidence of done by hand, try to sow the seed evenly
damping off are all reduced. Raised beds in the furrow about 3 — 4cm apart.
are truly beneficial if soil is heavy and/or
poorly drained. Harvesting is also easier. Do not sow too densely – that makes later
thinning of the plants uncomfortable.
Raised beds should be 1 — 1,2m wide
Thin plants to 5 — 9cm apart in the rows,
with 50cm between them. If making them
by hand, mark the area with twine, then depending on the size of beets needed for
use a spade and a rake to make the beds. a specific market. If possible, sow seeds
when the weather is cloudy.
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 Production guidelines

Transplanting
More than 90% of beetroot producers sow Beetroot prefers welldrained soil, well-
the seed directly in the soil, but seed can supplied with lime and potash. Heavy soils
also be sown in seedbeds and transplanted. usually are not so likely to run short of
Seed trays or other containers can also be potash. A lack of phosphorus or nitrogen
used to raise seedlings but this is expensive will stunt growth and produce a deep red
because of the high cost (about 450 000 colour. When grown extensively under
plants are needed to establish 1ha). irrigation, beets can tolerate high salt
concentrations.
Mulching
Mulching can protect emerging seed from Beetroot are sensitive to high acidity and
burning and keep the top soil layer moist and low boron levels. They are, in fact, a good
cool. Mulching materials include straw, corn indicator for boron deficiency: blackened
cobs, sawdust, sunflower seeds, peanut areas and cracked roots are usually signs
shells, grass, grass clippings, newspapers and, when cooked, there are black spots in
and household waste. Good mulch must be the tissue and the beets taste bitter.
inexpensive, available and easy to handle.
It must also be stable, so that it will not Irrigating
easily wash or blow away. Remember that Always irrigate carefully and, early in the
it’s the temperature of the soil, not of the season, take care not to irrigate too much.
air, that controls seed germination so it Waterlogging can turn leaves red and
is best to wait for soil temperature to rise plants may stop growing for a while. As a
before sowing seed. In summer, mulch has general guide, apply 300 — 350mm water
a cooling effect on the root system. throughout the growing season, starting
A good layer of mulch can reduce off with 20mm in the first week and 40mm
evaporation from the soil surface by as every week thereafter.
much as 70%.
Irrigation is especially important in the early
Fertilising stages of plant development and during
A soil analysis or test is the most root development. When sowing beetroot,
accurate guide to fertilizer requirements. keep the soil damp, lightly irrigating often
Recommended soil sampling procedures to keep the surface cool, especially in warm
should be followed in order to estimate weather. The growth points of emerging
fertiliser needs, and good management seed are very sensitive to hot soil conditions,
practices are very important if optimum so during long spells of hot, sunny weather,
fertiliser responses to beets are to be give 8mm water per day.
realised.
On cold winter days, about 2mm of water
Top or side dressings of nitrogen should is needed. It is critical to irrigate the field
be applied at about 100kg/ha or (10g/m2) in the last half of the growing season.
at the three-leaf stage, about three weeks Water shortages at this time could have
after emergence, and 100kg/ha three weeks the greatest negative influence on yields.
later. Potassium levels should be kept fairly During this period irrigate early in the day so
high. The second top dressing can be 1:0:1 that leaves can dry off and prevent diseases
or potassium nitrate if K levels are low. developing.

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 Control: The disease is seedborne — use
good quality seed. Don’t overwater. Plant
in well drained soils. Control weeds. Don’t
plant with too narrow spacing.

Root rot, damping-off Germination is

poor, the young seedlings grow poorly, turn
yellow, wilt, topple over and die. The roots
are rotten ad turn black. The disease can be
severe on compacted soils.
Control: Don’t overwater. Plant only in soils
with good drainage. Treat the seed with
thiram. Practice crop rotation. Make sure
that the crop does not lack sufficient boron.
Plant at the right time and not too deep.

Quality is compromised by hot weather, Cutworm. Grey/brown to black worms

as alternate white and red rings in the that feed on the portion of the stem
cut roots show.
directly above ground level, resulting in
toppling over of recently tansplanted young
Harvesting seedlings.
Soil should be slightly moist before cutting Control: Keep the land free from weeds
or pulling beets. If the soil is too dry, roots for about 6 weeks before planting. Apply
may be difficult to clean and the rate of commercial cutworm bait around seedling
top breakage may be too high. For best stems.
flavour and tenderness, harvesting should
begin when roots are 3 — 4cm in diameter. Hawaiian beet webworm. The light
Most beets grown commercially, however, greenish larvae of a small brown and white
are harvested when they are fully mature moth feed on the undersides of leaves.
to obtain the highest yields. Handle beets They spin loose webbing on the underside
carefully after harvesting to avoid damaging of leaves, where they hide and where
the roots. Damage reduces shelf life excreta accumulate.
and increases the chances of decay and
disease. Lesser armyworm. Also known as the
Fresh market beets can be stored for 10 — beet armyworm. They are usually green,
14 days, at 0°C and 98% to 100% relative but may be brown or blackish with lengths
humidity. of approximately 25mm. The larvae hide
during the day lower down on the plant
Diseases and pests on beetroot betweeen stems or between clods on the
Beetroot is firstly infected with Cercospora ground and emerge at night to feed on the
leaf spot. foliage.

Downy mildew Nematodes. Cause swellings (galls) on

Young leaves are thickened, and turn roots resulting in poor growth of plants.
downwards at the edges. A grey fungus Control: Crop rotation, intercropping
growth is visible on the underside of the with marigolds, mustard and rapeseed;
leaves. The infected parts turn brown later. fallowing; soil solarization; registered
pestcides.

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 Introduction

RSA sowing and planting chart for the most popular vegetable crops*
Crop Sowing time Transplanting time Harvesting time
Potatoes Aug. Nov.
Sept. Dec.
Feb./Mar. Jun./Jul.
Beetroot Jan./Feb. Thin out at a later stage May/Jun.
Mar./Apr. Jul./Aug./Sept.
Jul./Aug. Nov./Dec.
Green beans Aug./Sept. Nov./Dec.
Oct. Jan./Feb.
Jan. Apr.
Feb./Mar. May/Jun.

Carrots Feb. Thin out 5 — 7 days after germination May/Jun.

Mar./Apr. Jul./Aug.
Jul./Aug. Oct./Nov.
Sept. Dec./Jan.
Cabbage Beginning of Feb. Mar. Jun./Jul.
End of Mar. May Aug./Sept.
Jun./Jul. Aug./Sept. Nov./Dec.
Aug./Sept. Oct./Nov. Dec./Jan.
Sweet Oct. Feb./Mar.
potatoes Nov. Mar. — May
Dec. May — Aug.
Pumpkin Aug./Sep. Dec. — Feb.
Jan. Mar./Apr.
Squash Aug./Sept. Nov./Dec.
Oct. Jan./Feb.
Jan. Apr./May
Lettuce Feb. Thin out 5 — 7 days after germination May/Jun.
Apr. Jul./Aug.
Jun. Sept./Oct.
Aug. Nov./Dec.
Tomatoes Aug./Sept. Oct. Jan. — Mar.
Nov. Dec. Mar./Apr.
Dec. Jan. Apr./May
*Please consult the seed company in your region regarding cultivars, which vary from area to area.

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