HOW TO CULTIVATE TOWNSHIP IN YOUR GARDEN

Hello friend of the farm, you want to grow beetroot in your garden at home, and get that taste of beet that is as attractive as its color. A breath of fresh air in salads and sauces because its sweet flavor adds that special touch that makes it as distinctive as it is delicious.
There are many varieties of the species, some of which are used for human consumption, others as animal feed, and others for the production of sugar (sugar beet, Beta vulgaris subsp .. vulgaris var. Altissima); others, among them Beta vulgaris var. Cycla known as Swiss chard that are grown for its vegetable leaves highly recommended for being rich in potassium, beta-carotene, calcium and iron. Its scientific name is Beta vulgaris var. Conditiva and its origins go back to North Africa, where it was cultivated for about 4,000 years. In the beginning, the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coast consumed the leaves while the root - which we eat today - was used for medicinal purposes to combat toothaches and headaches. It was in the sixteenth century when, due to its sweet taste, the root was incorporated into the diet.

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TYPES OF BEET
The beteraga olaracea is a very cultivated plant with the purpose of consuming its roots or leaves, both very nutritious. Most beet crops have red or red-purple roots, but there are also varieties of other colors such as yellow, orange and white. The reddish-colored beet crop is also used to extract betanin, a substance used to make red dye present in tomato and ice cream sauces. Beet olaracea is native to the wild species known as the sea beet, this name is graces found on the coasts of Europe, North Africa, South Asia and the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.
The sugar beet is cultivated especially for the production of sucrose (common sugar) or for the production of alcohol. Its primary root stores the sugar produced by the leaves, this plant usually has the root longer than the beet oleracea, and can be white or yellowish.

The forage beetle is mainly cultivated to provide food for livestock, however they can also be consumed by humans, especially when young are harvested. They are plants that are usually larger than the oleaceae and their roots can also be white, yellow, orange or red.

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GROUND
Beets need a well drained soil, light, deep, without the presence of stones or other debris, fertile, rich in organic matter and with a pH between 6 to 7.5. You should also keep in mind when it comes to how to plant beets, this needs a soil rich in boron so that it can have a better development, which is why it must be added through the use of fertilizers containing boron or the addition of borax. down.

SUBSTRATUM:
We must avoid soils or substrates with little drainage and poor in organic matter. Ideally beets should be between 20/25 cm deep to grow well, in case you are going to plant them in pots. The substrate must be rich in organic matter and be free of stones and large lumps of earth.
PH:
The pH of the soil is very important. It can affect the bioavailability of nutrients and the development of the plant. In general, beets grow well at pH between 6 and 7.

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LIGHT The beterrada grows better in full sun, look for a site that receives at least 5 hours of direct light a day. Avoid planting in semi-shade locations, under other larger plants or trees and shrubs.

TEMPERATURE Beterradas tolerate low temperatures well, although they prefer areas with mild temperatures and humidity, but the truth is that it is a plant that we can cultivate practically throughout the year.
Pests:

IRRIGATION
The plant grows better when the environment is cool and humid because the drought damages it. It is important to keep the soil moist once the seeds are planted (this will favor germination), but without overdoing it with water. You can put a padding around to keep the moisture from the earth. In addition, mulching helps maintain a more homogeneous temperature in the soil and prevents unwanted or adventitious plants from growing. In general, beet is a type of crop that requires moist soils.
That is why it is best to water them with plenty of water, especially during the summer. Of course, avoid excess water you must water the soil in order to keep it moist, without it puddling.

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THE PRUNE
To care for your plants you can hunt them, that is, add dirt next to the plants. In this way you will avoid weeds. It is recommended to do it frequently and, in case these enemies appear, try to remove the earth with care avoiding damaging your beets because they grow very close to the surface.

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HARVEST
The sugar beet is harvested after 60 to 90 days after sowing. The harvest is not done too late, since the roots can become fibrous. The cultivation of sugar beet takes place 4 to 6 months after sowing. The good news is that beets can be harvested at any stage of development, from the thinned ones (that is, those that are removed from the ground ahead of time) to those that complete their maturation. To collect them, just cut the leaves of the beets leaving an inch of stems in the beets. Once the harvest is done, it is best to store your specimens in plastic bags with holes and in the refrigerator or a natural option is to keep them in outdoor holes as long as they are buried in autumn and before the land freezes. Depending on the variety, it can be harvested in about 90 to 120 days, when the beterrada measures between 4 and 8 cm in diameter and is ready to eat. If they are larger, they may not be so tender. By the way, the leaves of the beet can also be used like other green leafy vegetables: in green smoothies, salads, soups, steamed, stews, etc.

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PLAGUES AND DISEASES

This is a list of some of the pests and diseases that can affect when growing beet:
• Black aphid: A plague that weakens the plant.
• Beet fly: are insects whose larvae perforate the leaves.
• Silph of the beet: they are very small beetles that infect the plant.
• Leaf spot: a disease caused by a fungus.
• Pulguilla: an insect that eats the leaves of the plant.
• Gray worms: worms that devour the neck of the root of the plant
• Beetroot eels (nematodes): a disease that causes parasites in the roots.
• Various viruses

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ESSENTIAL CARE
It never hurts to know some tricks and secrets that will facilitate the task of growing beets

• To fight the fly of the beet, the infected leaves should be torn off and burned.
• To avoid shrinking the beet, it is recommended to wash the plant with nicotine water.
• Take care not to plant too deep to avoid weak stems.
• Plantations are recommended in scale, with intervals of 3 or 4 weeks until the middle of summer, to have beets at all times.

Invasive plants must be removed as they compete for resources and nutrients. Neither should you allow the roots to be exposed, as they may harden. The exposed roots should be covered with soil or straw.

SOURCE:
https://www.ecoagricultor.com/cultivar-remolacha-beterrada/
https://ecohortum.com/como-cultivar-remolacha/
https://como-plantar.com/remolacha/

I hope this article has served you well.