When choosing beets for planting, it is important to consider not only the taste and color, but also the characteristics of your site. The type of soil, the level of acidity, the depth of groundwater and even the timing of sowing directly affect the shape of the root crop, its juiciness and ability to be stored all winter.
Beets that won't let you down:
- Bordeaux 237 is a classic. Round, dark burgundy root vegetables weighing 200–300 g. Sweet, without rings, perfectly stored until May. Resistant to shooting.
- Egyptian flat is an early ripening variety with a flattened shape. Very juicy, ideal for salads and baby food. Stored until February.
- Cylinder is a late variety with an elongated shape. Contains almost no white rings, dense, sweet. Ideal for slicing and marinating. Stored until June.
- Smuglyanka is a mid-season variety with a high sugar content. Root crops are dark, smooth, yield up to 8 kg/m². Tolerates cool summers well.
- The Red Bogatyr is large, but not rude. Suitable for both borscht and baking. Stores well, rot resistant.
- Opolskaya is early, but if properly stored it lasts until December. The pulp is tender, sweet, without bitterness.
- Libero F1 is a modern hybrid with high yield and even root crops. Does not crack, is disease resistant, can be stored for 5-6 months.
Which varieties might disappoint?
Not all popular varieties are equally reliable in our conditions. “Red Ball”, although beautiful in appearance, often becomes smaller on poor soils and does not tolerate drought well. “Opolskaya” produces an early harvest, but quickly loses its juiciness during storage. And hybrid seeds without a clear variety name can give unstable results.
Tips for a rich harvest:
- Plant at least two varieties: one early and one late.
- Prepare the bed in the fall: beets like neutral or slightly alkaline soil, without fresh manure.
- Thin out the seedlings on time, the distance between plants should be 8–10 cm.
- Water regularly, but not abundantly: lack of moisture makes beets tough, and excess watery.
- For storage, choose late varieties, harvest in dry weather and trim the tops to zero, leaving “stumps” no longer than 1 cm.
This approach guarantees not only a harvest, but also beets, which both children and adults will be delighted with.
Question and answer:
Why do beets become tough and tasteless?
Hardness occurs due to lack of water, excess nitrogen or acidic soil. To keep beets sweet and tender, water regularly, add wood ash and monitor the pH.
What varieties of beets are best stored until spring?
Late varieties are best stored: “Bordeaux 237”, “Cylinder” and “Red Bogatyr”. They are dense, juicy and rot resistant. The main thing is to clean in dry weather and store at a temperature of +1…+3°C.
