VARIETIES

VARITIES

VARIETIES
Beet cultivars are usually classified on the basis of shape of roots.
  1. Flat: Flat-Egyptean
  2. Short-top shape: Flattened at top and bottom with rounded sides and conical or tapered base, e.g. Crosby Egyptian, Early Wonder, Asgrow Wonder
  3. Round or globular: Roots are round or globular in shape, e.g. Detroit dark Red, Crimson Globe.
  4. Half-long: Length is short than long types, e.g. Half-Long Blood, Winter Keeper.
  5. Long: Roots are long, may grow as much as 40 cm, quite popular in Europe, e.g., Long Dark Blood.
Characters of some of the varieties are explained as under:
Crimson Globe:
  • Top of this variety is medium to small.
  • Leaves are large, bright green with coppery shade, prominent venation and younger red veins.
  • Roots are round to flat round and medium red, small shoulders, dark crimson red with indistinct zones.
  • It is non corrosive in taste when taken raw.
  • It gets ready for harvesting in 80-90 days after maturity.
Crosby Egyptian:
  • Roots are flat globes with a small tap root and a smooth exterior.
  • The internal colour is dark purplish red with some indistinct zoning.
  • The top is medium tall green with red veins.
  • It reaches edible maturity in 55-60days after sowing and shows pronounced white zoning, when grown in warm weather.
Detroit Dark Red:
  • Top is small with dark green glossy foliage having maroon tinge.
  • Prominent venation of maroon colour is found in this variety.
  • Mid rib is thin from dorsal side but looks broad because of spreading maroon shade to its nearby areas.
  • Older leaves are prominently maroon shaded.
  • Roots are smooth, uniform, and attractive with small collar and perfectly round with deep red skin.
  • Flesh is very dark, blood red with light zoning, tender, round, fine grains and corrosive in taste when taken raw.
  • It is a heavy yielding cultivar maturing in 80-100days.
Early Wonder:
  • The roots are flattened globe with rounded shoulders and skin is smooth and dark red
  • The interior is dark red with lighter red zoning.
  • The top is heavy, green with red veins.
  • It takes about 55-60 days after sowing to reach edible maturity.
Ooty-1:
  • It is a selection from the local type and released from TNAU, Coimbatore in 1992.
  • It can grow up to 40 to 52cm in height.
  • The roots are blood red in colour with thin skin and good quality.
  • It contains 1.52 per cent protein, 10.25per cent carbohydrate and 6mg/100g vitamin C.
  • It can be used as a salad.
  • It yields on an average 310-450q/ha of roots.
  • It can be grown throughout South Indian hills.
SOWING TIME

Plains

Northern plains : September – November.
Southern plains : July – November.
Hills
March- July.
  • The seed is sown in raised beds or furrows and before sowing seeds are soaked in water over night for better germination.
SEED RATE
  • It requires about 8-10 kg of seed for cultivation in one hectare.
SPACING
  • 30-45 x 8-10 cm at a depth of 2-3 cm on ridges
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
  • For getting good yield, 200-250 quintals of well rotten farmyard manure should be applied during field preparation.
  • Besides, 200-250q Farm Yard Manure, 60-70 kg nitrogen, 100-20kg phosphorus and 60-70kg potash per hectare should also be applied.
  • Application of half to two third of total nitrogen along with whole quantity each of Farm Yard Manure, phosphorous and potash is given as basal dose.
  • The remaining half-to-one third quantity of nitrogen is applied after three to four weeks of sowing.
  • Further, light sandy soils require more nitrogen and potassium.
IRRIGATION
  • Irrigate the field immediately after seed sowing. Light but regular irrigations should be given to maintain the optimum level of moisture in the field for better germination.
  • The crop requires 300 mm of water which should be supplied through 4-6 irrigations.
  • Stagnation of water is harmful.
INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS
  • Earthing up is essential to cover the exposed root.
  • One or two hoeings should be done.
  • Pre-emergence application of pyrazone at 1.5-2.0 kg a.i. /ha or Pendimethan at 1.0 kg a.i. /ha is recommended for effective weed control.
THINNING
  • The seed of beet root is multigerm which produce 3-4 seedlings per seed ball.
  • Hence, thinning is an important operation. Remove extra seedlings leaving a single robust plant per seed ball.
  • The thinning should be done n the seedlings attain 3-4 leaves.
  • Also remove weak, diseased and insect attacked plants to maintain the distance of 8-10cmbween the plants in a row.
HARVESTING
  • The crop is ready for harvesting in 55-70 days after sowing.
  • Harvest the roots when they attain the size of 3-5 cm in diameter.
YIELD
  • 250-300q/ha

Last modified: Tuesday, 19 June 2012, 6:06 PM