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In Russia, beets began to be grown in the tenth century. The vegetable immediately fell in love with both the common population and the nobility. Since then, many different varieties and types of root vegetables have appeared. Such a wide selection can satisfy even the most demanding gardener. In general, beets are fairly easy to grow. The vegetable is valued for its unpretentiousness and ability to grow well in almost any type of soil. However, not everyone knows when to remove beets from the garden. Below you will see the answer to this question.
Features of the root vegetable
Breeders have managed to develop different varieties of beets that can grow even in the most unfavorable conditions. Even the most inept gardeners can cope with this task. When choosing a variety, it is necessary to take into account climatic features. The following facts will help you make your choice:
- in the northern regions of the country, where summers are cool and very short, it is best to grow mid-early and early varieties. Such beets grow for no more than 100 days, so by the time the cold weather arrives you will definitely have time to harvest;
- There are frost-resistant beet varieties that can be planted before winter and immediately after the snow has subsided. Beetroot of these varieties is harvested at the end of July. Unlike early beets, frost-resistant beets are stored much better;
- if you need to keep beets fresh throughout the winter, you need to buy late and mid-season varieties. In this case, it will be possible to harvest only in September. The concentration of sugar in beets is responsible for the preservation of fruits. It is by the beginning of September that this figure will reach normal.
When to remove beets from the garden
The ripeness of fruits can be determined by the following characteristics:
- The first thing you should pay attention to is the characteristics of the variety being grown. The manufacturer indicates on the packaging how long the growing season of a given beet lasts. Typically, early ripening varieties ripen in 2–3 months. So by the end of July - beginning of August it will be possible to collect young fruits. But mid-season and late varieties ripen no earlier than after 3.5 months.
- Please note that the dates indicated on the packaging may not be accurate. Much depends on weather conditions or climatic features of the region. Sometimes it’s even better to keep the beets in the garden. For example, in dry and warm weather, various vitamins and sugar accumulate in fruits. If the autumn is wet and cold, then it is better to harvest the crop immediately after ripening. Keeping beets in such conditions for a long time will only spoil the quality of the fruit.
- The ripeness of fruits can be determined by external signs. As soon as the root crop ripens, the upper part of the plant will begin to die. The leaves near the base of the fruit will begin to turn yellow and dry out. It is also important to consider the shape and size of the fruit. If they meet the stated characteristics, then it’s time to harvest.
- It is also worth starting fruit harvesting immediately if frosts arrive soon. This usually only happens with late beet varieties. Even if the vegetables are not yet ripe, they are still removed from the garden.The fact is that even light frosts can harm the root crop, which then simply begins to deteriorate.
- If there is no threat of frost, it is better not to rush into harvesting. The last weeks of growth are very important for this vegetable.
How to harvest beets correctly
Growing beautiful and tasty beets is just the beginning. In order for the fruits to be stored for a long time and preserve all the beneficial properties, you need to know some subtleties:
- When choosing the timing of beet harvesting, take into account weather conditions. It is better to do this in warm, dry weather. Humidity promotes the spread of rot, so even a little rain can harm the crop.
- The safest way is to pull out the root vegetables by hand. This way you will definitely not damage or cut the fruits. If the soil is too dense, you will have to use additional tools such as a shovel or fork. It is important not to damage the beets themselves. The slightest cuts will provoke the spread of all kinds of viruses and fungi.
- After digging, the tops of the harvested root crops should be trimmed. To do this, use a special pruner or scissors. The leaves need to be cut fairly short, leaving no more than 1 cm. Thanks to this, the beets will not germinate again in winter. If the root is too long, then it should also be trimmed a little.
- After this, the peeled fruits must be dried. You can simply leave the beets on the plot. When the top part of the root crop dries, it can be turned over to the other side. If weather conditions do not allow leaving the harvest outside, then it would be better to spread the fruits in one layer in any dry room or under a canopy.This place or room must be well ventilated.
- Before placing root vegetables in the cellar, you need to carefully sort and sort the fruits.
How to store beets
Properly prepared crops can be stored for a long time in a suitable room. In addition, it is important that the conditions of detention are appropriate:
- A dry basement or cellar is perfect for storing fruits. This place should be cool. The ideal temperature is from 0 to 3°C. The main thing is that the indicator does not drop below. The floor and walls in the room must be strong and reliable so that neither moisture nor rodents get inside;
- a small amount of root vegetables can be left for cold storage. This way, fresh vegetables will always be at hand;
- in large storage facilities, root crops are placed in special wooden boxes, bags or baskets. The fruits can also be sprinkled with sawdust or sand. If there are no special containers, vegetables are simply distributed over the surface of the racks.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is very important to correctly determine when to harvest root crops. This determines how long the harvested beets will be stored in the winter. It is difficult to predict exactly when it will be necessary to harvest the fruits in 2017, but following the signs and rules described above, we will definitely harvest the beets on time.
