Beta vulgaris

Beta vulgaris, also known as beet or sugar beet, is a sugar crop which has high commercial value. It has conical juicy root and stock petiole. Beet is a major source of sugar, and is commonly cooked as beef purees. It can also be used to make sweet juice with other fruits. 
This crop is relatively easy to grow, which has a high yield and will seldom suffer from disease. The planting area of beet commonly enjoys a longer sunshine duration, together with a larger temperature variation between day and night. 
Sugar beet grows well in warm climate, but has a cold-resistance at the same time. The plant is suitable to raise in the fertile soil with a well-drained structure. 
As for seed selection, it is recommended to choose polyploid variety with high stress resistance and sugar content. Remember to disinfect seeds to prevent pests in the seedling period. Before sowing, you can dry the seeds in sunshine for 2-3 days, in order to improve the germination rate. When the temperature of soil exceeds 5℃ for 5 days, it is the suitable time for sowing seeds. Put seeds in 3-5 cm depth and cover the soil tightly. 
If it is rainy and cold during the growth period of young seedlings, weeding should be carried out once a week. This can help to promote the growth of beet and prevent disease. 
Topdressing on the leaves is also recommended. In root swelling period, spray liquid fertilizer to the plant every 15 days, in order to effectively promote the growth of root. 
When the temperature dropped to 5℃, it is the optimum harvest time of sugar beet. Early harvest will cause the decrease of sugar content. On the other hand, being too late will cause freezing injury and economic loss. 

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Beta Vulgaris

Beta vulgaris

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