Beetroot Bordeaux and Bordeaux 237: variety description, planting and care, photos, reviews

Bordeaux beets are a popular Russian variety, known for more than 50 years. It has good resistance to drought, frost and pests. The crop is grown in almost all regions. The taste is excellent, and the yield reaches 8 kg per square meter.

Origin story

Bordeaux beets were bred at VIR named after. N.I. Vavilova. The variety was obtained by a team of breeders (Burenin V.I., Pivovarov V.F., Piskunova T.M. and others). Bordeaux 237, developed in 1937 and entered into the register in 1943, was taken as the basis.

The Bordeaux variety has been successfully tested. It was included in the register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation in 2003. Approved for cultivation in most Russian regions:

• middle lane;
• Volga region;
• southern regions;
• Eastern Siberia;
• Far East.

It is also cultivated in neighboring countries - Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova. It is not a hybrid, so you can grow Bordeaux beets either from purchased seeds or from seed collected yourself.

Description of the Bordeaux beet variety

The culture produces a semi-erect rosette with green petioles. The leaves are oval, with or without wavy edges, green, the surface is slightly bubbly. Petioles are green. Bordeaux beets are single-seeded, i.e. It produces only one sprout, making it easy to grow.

The roots are round, with very weak suberization of the head or without it, the flesh is red. The mass reaches 200–350 g. The taste is characterized as excellent. Can be used fresh for preparing various dishes. During heat treatment, the pulp does not lose color.

The composition includes water (81%), dry matter (19%), sugar (12–13%).

Characteristics of Bordeaux beets

Bordeaux beets are high-yielding varieties. From 1 m² you can collect from 4 to 8 kg, depending on the type of soil, climatic conditions of the region and care characteristics. For industrial cultivation, the figure ranges from 300 to 530 c/ha (in the conditions of the middle zone) or 315–460 c/ha (in the conditions of Western Siberia). The maximum figure was registered in the Tula region (more than 630 c/ha).

Bordeaux beet roots are large, round in shape

This is a mid-season variety: technical maturity occurs 85–95 days after planting. The keeping quality of fruits under storage conditions (dark place, temperature 2–5 degrees Celsius, moderate humidity) is good. Root crops are transportable - they can be transported over long distances to the place of sale, storage or processing.

The Bordeaux variety is resistant to frost, so winter sowing in October is allowed. It also tolerates drought well - it can be grown in regions with insufficient moisture.

Features and description of beet variety Bordeaux 237

The first in the series is the Bordeaux 237 variety, obtained in 1937. Approved for cultivation in all regions of the country. Beets are similar in appearance and taste. Rosettes of leaves are semi-erect. Moreover, the petioles are not purely green - their underside is red. The leaves are oval, typical green in color, the surface is medium bubbly, with slight waviness at the edges.

Bordeaux beet roots 237 are medium and large, round in shape. The average weight is from 230 to 510 g. The pulp is dark red, the taste is good and rich. The composition includes water (81%) and dry matter (19%), including sugar (total content up to 14%).

The yield of the Bordeaux 237 beet variety averages from 360 to 453 c/ha, which corresponds to 4–8 kg per 1 m². The maximum figure of 797 c/ha was registered in the Kursk region. Commercial products have a yield of 94% to 98%, so the variety is grown both in personal and on farms.

Advantages and disadvantages

Bordeaux beets are popular among summer residents and farmers, since the variety is well adapted to the climatic conditions of different regions. It does not require special care, root crops ripen quickly enough, and the yield is consistently high.

Bordeaux beet pulp does not lose its rich color even when heated

Pros:

• high productivity;
• excellent taste;
• attractive appearance;
• frost resistance;
• single-seeded;
• good keeping quality and transportability;
• low maintenance requirements;
• resistance to frost and drought;
• winter sowing is possible;
• germination rate is almost 100%.

Minuses:

• requires a large area for cultivation;
• unplanned diving is necessary due to the high germination percentage.

Planting Bordeaux beets

This variety can be grown by direct sowing in the ground and by seedlings (to speed up ripening). The timing of sowing depends on the method of agricultural technology and the climatic conditions of the region:

1. In spring, seeds are sown in open ground when the soil warms up to at least 9 degrees.
2. In autumn, winter sowing is planned for the second half of October, 2–3 weeks before frost.
3. Seeds for seedlings are sown a month before transplanting into the ground, i.e. no later than the beginning of April.

Growing seedlings

Before planting seeds for seedlings, they need to be selected and prepared:

1. Place in a glass of salted water and remove any that float to the surface after a few minutes.
2. Place on gauze and soak in warm water, keeping at room temperature until it swells.
3. Place damp gauze in saucers and refrigerate for 5–7 days.

Bordeaux beet seeds can be planted both in common boxes and in separate containers (2-3 pieces each) to avoid picking. The soil is purchased in the store or prepared in advance on the basis of garden soil, humus, peat and sand (2: 1: 1: 1).

Instructions for growing seedlings are simple:

1. Bury the seeds 1–1.5 cm, moisten the soil surface.
2. Cover with film with holes. Place in a warm place.
3. Remove the film after germination.
4. Transfer the container to a room with a temperature of 14–15 degrees.
5. A week before transplanting, harden off the seedlings on the balcony.

Planting in open ground

Before planting seeds in open ground, dig up the area and fertilize it with humus or compost (5 kg per 1 m²). The place should be chosen open; the soil should be loose and not acidified (pH about 7.0). Growing Bordeaux beets or other varieties in one place for more than four years in a row is unacceptable.

Standard landing pattern:

• furrows 3 cm deep;
• interval between rows – 30 cm;
• the distance between adjacent seeds is 8 cm.

Immediately after planting, the furrow should be carefully watered so as not to wash out the surface layer.

Bordeaux beet care

Caring for beets of this variety is quite simple. Watering should be moderate - once a week is enough, but more often during drought, so that the top layer does not dry out completely. 2-3 weeks before harvesting, water is stopped. After heavy rain or watering, the soil needs to be loosened. Weeding is carried out as necessary.

Fertilizing is applied three times per season:

1. At the stage of leaf formation - complex fertilizer.
2. At the beginning of fruiting - double superphosphate and potassium sulfate (40 g per 1 m²).
3. After 3-4 weeks, complex fertilizer is added again.

Possible diseases and pests

With proper care, beets of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux 237 varieties are rarely affected by diseases and pests. But in some cases (for example, against the background of excessive watering, crop rotation violations), the crop may suffer from fungal infections:

• cercospora - the disease develops against the background of excessive soil moisture;
• pernosporosis (downy mildew) - a whitish coating appears on the leaves. To prevent this, you need to disinfect the seeds and soil before planting.

Among insects, beet flies, flea beetles and shield beetles are dangerous. You can fight them with folk remedies, for example, a solution of mustard powder, an infusion of chili peppers, onion peels, or a decoction of marigolds. In extreme cases, planting Bordeaux beets is treated with insecticides:

• "Alatar";
• "Fufanon";
• "Spark double effect."

Beet bugs and other pests can be controlled with folk remedies and insecticides

Conclusion

Bordeaux beets are one of the most unpretentious and productive varieties. Suitable for growing in open ground conditions in most Russian regions. Root crops are transportable and shelf-stable, which allows you to stock up until spring.

Reviews from gardeners about Bordeaux and Bordeaux beets 237

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