How to feed beets for growth and a good harvest in the open field

Any vegetable crop needs fertilizer. They are necessary for normal growth, adaptation to environmental conditions and crop formation.

Beets are no exception. Nutrient deficiencies negatively affect the quality and quantity of the crop. To get large, red and sweet roots, you need to know how to feed the beets, as well as how and when to do it right.

Beet site preparation and fertilization scheme

For successful cultivation, the soil for planting beets should be loose, light and fertile. Cultivated peatlands, chernozems, loamy soils - neutral or slightly alkaline - will pass. Since autumn, after harvesting the predecessor, organic fertilizers are added to the soil under deep autumn plowing: humus, compost.

4-5 kg of rotten mullein or 3 kg of compost are applied per 1 m². Do not use fresh manure or bird droppings for beets. To loosen the soil, quicklime is applied at the rate of 0.5-1 kg per 1 m².

In the spring, before cultivation or digging, the soil is additionally fertilized with mineral fertilizers. For 1 m² they contribute:

• 15-20g ammonium nitrate or 30g ammonium sulfate;
• 40 g superphosphate;
• 15g potassium chloride.

Additionally, you can add humus at the rate of 2-3 kg per 1 m².

Feeding beets in open ground is as follows:

1. In the phase of formation of the second pair of permanent leaves, when the plant needs nitrogen to build up green mass, beets are fed with a solution of mullein or chicken manure. Fertilizer is applied in special grooves between the rows.
2. In May, at the stage of 6-8 leaves, apply mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
3. At the stage of formation of root crops (in late July - early August), after closing the leaves of neighboring seedlings, the plant is fed with phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen is no longer applied. An excess of this element leads to the growth of tops to the detriment of root crops.

What do beets need and how to recognize starvation?

First of all, beets need the main elements: phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. Their deficiency affects the crop yield. Beets use nutrients unevenly throughout the growing season.

Most of them are absorbed a month after germination, when the root system of the plant is already sufficiently developed. At the beginning of growth, the need for nitrogen is higher, by the end of cultivation - for potassium and phosphorus. Even on fertile soil, feeding beets during the growing process is necessary.

Beets need sodium to store carbohydrates and give them flavor. For this purpose, table s alt or sodium nitrate is added to the soil.

Beet nutrition deficiency can be determined by the condition of the leaves and other organs. With a lack of potassium, yellow spots appear on the foliage. If there is not enough sodium in the soil, the tops turn red. With a lack of nitrogen, the leaves are underdeveloped.They are small and weak. With a lack of boron, the root rots in the root.

To compensate for the deficiency of minerals, fertilizers of industrial production (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium sulfate, etc.) or organic origin (mullein, compost, bird droppings, infusion of nettles or other weeds with yeast) are used.

Feeding under the root for beets

For the full development of the root crop, the next day after sowing, the first feeding of plants with wood ash is carried out. For this, 2 cups of the product are diluted in 15 liters of water, insisted for 2 hours and used to water beet beds.

After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, organic fertilizers are applied to the soil. In order to increase the sugar content, table s alt or other sodium fertilizers are used as root dressing during the formation of root crops.

For the development of the root crop, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied under the root. The first time - when 3-4 pairs of leaves are formed. The second - when the top of the root crop is shown from the ground.

In addition, boric acid, infusions of weeds, lime are used as root dressing. The latter is applied 1 time per season along with the first mineral dressing.

Foliar feeding of beets

Sometimes fertilizers are not applied at the root, but the foliage and soil around the bush are irrigated. Foliar feeding of beets has its advantages:

1. Nutritious substances are absorbed by the foliage faster than the root system.
2. Elements that are not brought under the root are absorbed more fully. Losses in this case are lower.
3. Foliar top dressing can be done at any stage of the plant's vegetation.
4. Foliar fertilization occurs more evenly with minimal risk of overdose.

Urea infusion is used for irrigation, for which 20 g of the substance is mixed with 10 liters of water. Manganese is used to prevent putrefactive legs. It is used as an irrigation with a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate 5 times per season.

You can use a solution of boric acid, sodium chloride and other means. Irrigation is carried out in the evening or on a cloudy day to prevent leaf burns.

Irrigating beets with s alt water

External changes indicate what fertilizer is needed. So, the redness of beet tops indicates that it lacks sodium. To protect foliage from yellowing and premature wilting, as well as the sweetness of root crops, the culture is watered with a solution of table s alt.

Soil enrichment with sodium is harmful for most plants, except for beets. S alt has a positive effect on its vegetation. In addition, s alt water protects the crop from some pests.

To obtain sweet beets, they are watered with a solution of rock s alt, since the intake of sodium contributes to the accumulation of carbohydrates in the tissues of root crops. Prepare a solution based on 1 m² - 1 tbsp. l. s alt per 10 liters of water. S alt is first completely dissolved in a small amount of hot water, and then the concentrate is diluted to the required volume.

Saline solution can also be used for foliar feeding. To this end, it is sprayed on beet leaves on both sides and the soil around the beds. This method of fertilizer additionally protects against summer flies, caterpillars and slugs, but in this case a more concentrated solution is used - 1 tbsp. s alt per 10 liters of water.

The culture is fed with s alt water three times:

1. After 6-8 leaves appear.
2. At the stage of root formation or after the top of the vegetable emerges from the ground.
3. 2-3 weeks after second feeding or one month before harvest.

Feeding beets with boric acid

Boron normalizes the synthesis of nitrogen-containing substances in plant tissues, participates in metabolism, is necessary for the synthesis of chlorophyll. The amount of a trace element in the soil affects the yield, keeping quality of root crops and their sugar content, and the overall resistance of plants to adverse environmental conditions.

The simplest, cheapest and most accessible boron compound is boric acid, so it is added to many complex fertilizers. The substance is colorless crystals, easily soluble in water.With a lack of boron, beets develop mycosis - phomosis, in which the core of the root crop rots. On the cut, the affected root crop is dark brown or black, and brown spots with black dots form on the leaves.

The use of the substance is most successful on sod-podzolic, gray, brown forest soil and on light chernozems. It is necessary to introduce boric acid into soils enriched with carbonates, as well as dark-colored soils, waterlogged and liming.

Beetroot boron is needed during the entire growing season. Culture belongs to the category of plants with a high need for this element. At the same time, with an excess of boron, yellowing and drying of the lower leaves are possible.

Apply the substance at different stages of the growing season. To stimulate seed germination, 200 mg of boric acid is dissolved in 1 liter of hot water.In the finished solution, the seeds are soaked for 12 hours. This solution can be watered in the rows before sowing at the rate of 1 liter per 1 m². Then the row is loosened and sown. You can spray the seeds with a dry mixture of acid and talc, mixed in a ratio of 1:1.

Basic feeding of beets with boric acid is used with a confirmed lack of boron in the soil, on sod-podzolic and peat and sandy soils. In this case, the plants are first watered with clean water so as not to burn the roots, and then with a 0.02% solution of boric acid.

At the stage of appearance of 4-5 leaves and during the period of formation of root crops, the culture is fed outside the roots. It is sprayed with a 0.05-0.06% acid solution together with other trace elements.

How to feed beets with chicken manure

After the formation of 2-3 leaves, it becomes necessary to apply organic fertilizers. For this purpose, a solution of mullein, rabbit feces or rotten chicken manure is used.

For this purpose, 2 parts of the selected organic fertilizers are diluted with 8 parts of water, insisted for 2 hours, filtered so that organic particles do not burn the roots and leaves of the plant and water the bed. After that, the beets need to be watered with clean water and mulched. Such top dressing is carried out only 1 time during the growing season of the crop.

Chicken manure is considered the most effective and concentrated of all organic fertilizers. In addition to organics, it contains 2% phosphorus, 2.5% nitrogen and 1% potassium. Do not use fresh litter for feeding. A high concentration of urea and uric acid in it can cause leaf and root burns.

Chicken manure can be applied to the soil from autumn, for autumn plowing or digging the site. To prepare liquid fertilizer from fresh manure, it is diluted in water at the rate of 1.5 kg per 10 liters of water and left to ferment for 7-10 days.The mixture is then used as a mother liquor.

Feeding beets with potassium

One of the necessary elements for the normal growth and development of beets is potassium. If there is not enough of it in the soil, the foliage of the plant becomes covered with yellow spots. Beets receive from the soil different amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus: 4, 6.5 and 1.6 kg, respectively. From this we can conclude that the plant needs potash fertilizers the most.

Potassium contributes to the active growth of the crop, increases its resistance to diseases, drought and temperature extremes, accelerates the formation, maturation and preservation of root crops, participates in the process of photosynthesis.

The introduction of the necessary elements in the cultivation of beets is carried out according to the schedule. So, the first application of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus is carried out at the stage of 4-6 pairs of leaves, when the active growth of green mass by the plant begins.Often the first feeding falls on May. The second time fertilize only with phosphorus and potassium. The second dressing is applied when the growth and formation of root crops begins.

With a confirmed potassium deficiency in the soil, they fertilize the crop every 10-15 days at the rate of 70 g of potassium chloride per 10 liters of water. Under each plant pour 300 ml of solution. You can additionally add 1 glass of lime to the mixture. In August, if the tops start to turn yellow too early, you can add potassium chloride to the soil at the rate of 30-40 g / m².

Fertilize beets with nettles

Feeding can be replaced by watering with nettle solution. This plant is a storehouse of useful substances: phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamins, organic acids and many others necessary for the full development of beets. Vitamin K, which is found in nettles, is actively involved in the process of photosynthesis.

Crops fertilized with nettle infusion are characterized by active growth and rapid fruit ripening, good resistance to adverse environmental conditions. The advantage of useful substances of organic origin is that they are easily absorbed by plants.

In addition, nettle preparations repel pests. The most effective application of dressings of plant origin is in the phase of active growth and growth of green mass.

Nutritious infusion is prepared from nettles. To do this, collect the green mass before the appearance of seeds. Use only he althy plants. Two-thirds of the container is filled with nettle, poured with water and infused for 2 weeks, stirring regularly.

To force fermentation, yeast can be added to the infusion. Fermentation accelerates in the open sun. Additional introduction of other weeds (comfrey, burdock and others) will further increase the concentration of nutrients in the solution. The finished product will darken and stop foaming. The solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Diluted 1:20 infusion can be used for spraying beets as a foliar top dressing once a month.

The culture is watered with infusion once a week at the rate of 0.5 liters for each plant. After that, the vegetables are additionally irrigated with clean water. Nettle-based top dressing is best done on a cloudy day, after rain or combined with the next watering.

Root fertilizer of beets by folk remedies

To grow organic, environmentally friendly products, folk remedies are used to feed beets. They, like industrial fertilizers, are applied twice a season. The first time - after the appearance of permanent leaves, and the second - after the closing of the leaves of neighboring seedlings.

Beets need alkaline soils rich in calcium to grow large, red and juicy. To do this, since autumn, such proven folk remedies as ash, dolomite, fish and bone meal or ground eggshells are introduced into the soil at the rate of 2-3 cups per 1 m².Ash is a natural phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. Ground chalk can be added to the soil to compensate for calcium deficiency.

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