Beetroot Detroit: description and characteristics of the variety, yield with photo

Every year, breeders bring out new root crops. The Detroit beet was bred in Italy and received a number of differences from other varieties. Due to its taste and high yield, the variety has received recognition from modern gardeners, it is grown in summer cottages and large farms.

Variety description

Detroit beetroot belongs to the table species. The root crop ripens early, 100-110 days after the growth of the first shoots. Suitable for planting in greenhouse conditions or open soil. The vegetable has a smooth surface, a rounded shape and flesh of a rich burgundy color without rings.Sizes are small, weight is about 200 g.

Due to the high taste characteristics, the root crop is juicy and sweet. The harvested crop can be consumed fresh or left to be stored for the winter. On a 100 sq. m can grow up to 500 kg of crop. Beetroot contains a large amount of nutrients and vitamins, it contains up to 14.2% sugar and up to 20.4% dry matter.

Growing

Before sowing, you must first prepare the soil. Beet seeds are laid in holes 25 cm deep, into which humus or rotted manure is introduced in advance. In case of planting in soil with high acidity, dolomite flour, lime or ash should be used as an additional fertilizer.

The root crop is planted in April. Seeds are best sown in the ground where cucumbers, potatoes, onions grew before. Suitable sowing temperature is 15-20 degrees.

For proper and rapid growth, the beds should be located in a sunny place with good humidity.

Features of care

Until the root crops are formed, the seedlings are watered very intensively. In the future, one watering per week is enough. After watering, the earth needs to be loosened. It is important to ensure that the soil is not subject to drought and is not oversaturated with moisture. The earth is stopped moistening a month before full ripening and harvesting.

To prevent diseases and accelerate maturation, potassium is fed once every 2 weeks. For 1 sq. m need about 16-20 g of potash fertilizers. After the second leaf has grown, thinning is required, removing weak shoots by 1-2 cm. It is not allowed to leave obvious weeds on the ground.

Pros and cons

The prevalence of Detroit beets among summer residents is due to the presence of a large number of comparative advantages. These include:

1. Steady high yield. In practice, the seeds of this variety give good seedlings and ripen in large quantities.
2. Disease resistance. Subject to the rules of care and periodic feeding, it is possible to prevent damage by pests and infections.
3. Good condition. By creating suitable storage conditions, you can leave the harvested crop for a long time without fear that it will deteriorate or lose its taste characteristics.
4. Transportability. The dense surface of the roots allows them to be transported without the risk of damage.
5. Frost resistance. With a periodic drop in temperature, the seedlings do not die and withstand frosts without damage to the crop.
6. Uniform germination and ease of cultivation. Table beets are unpretentious in growing conditions, which significantly reduces labor costs.

Obvious shortcomings in this variety are not observed. You can only face problems when growing if there is no care for the plants.

Pests and diseases

Despite the resistance of the root crop to diseases, inexperienced gardeners periodically encounter damage to plants. During the growth of Detroit beets, the description of the variety suggests the possibility of being affected by white and gray rot, medvedka and downy mildew. When root crops rot, the root system and lower leaves are affected.

Due to powdery mildew visible damage to the leaves. Medvedka individuals gnaw roots and stems, which leads to the destruction of plants.

In order to combat diseases and pests, it is necessary to carefully cultivate the aisles in the beds, destroy weeds in a timely manner and remove the affected plants. If harmful insects or symptoms of diseases are detected, the amount of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers should also be increased.

Harvest and storage of crops

At the end of summer - beginning of autumn, the harvest period begins. It is better to collect beetroot in warm, dry weather, when there is no dew and the roots have been in the sun for some time. This will extend the safety of the crop.

Before you remove the beets from the beds, you should pay attention to the condition of the stems - in ripe root crops they dry out and turn yellow.

As a storage location, you should choose a cool, dark room where there is no excess moisture. Beet root crops are suitable for storage at a temperature of about 2-3 degrees. A common way to store beets is in the cellar along with potatoes. Root crops are laid out in several layers on potato tubers, which transfer excess moisture. You can leave the vegetable for the winter in plastic bags with a capacity of 15-20 kg. The bags must be tied up and, in case of condensation, opened for a while, leaving a small hole for evaporation.

Reviews of gardeners

Marina, Krasnodar:

“A picky variety, I have been planting for several seasons in a row. From time to time I encounter pests, but spraying helps to get rid of them. I really like the taste of beets - surprisingly rich and sweet.”

Nikolai, Yekaterinburg:

“I read a lot of good reviews about this variety and planted it in several beds for the first time. The harvest was good, there were no problems during cultivation. I left most of it in the basement for the winter.”

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