In the autumn, the most germinating, frost-resistant beet varieties are planted. This is due to the fact that the seeds will stay in the ground all winter and germinate only in early spring to please the first harvest. You can find out about how the preparation for sowing, planting beets and the subsequent care of the beds takes place while reading this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of autumn beet planting
A distinctive feature of sowing root crops for the winter is that the seeds germinate without the participation of a gardener. They do not need additional watering and heating, which occurs naturally until the onset of spring.
The advantages include:
- Hardening. It is a natural factor. Plants that grow from seeds are more resistant to climate degradation and lack of moisture.
- Time saving. In the spring, gardeners already have enough worries, so planting beets in the fall can reduce the load in the future.
- Early harvest. Fruits are formed 2-3 weeks earlier than with the traditional sowing method.
- Independence from weather conditions. There is no need to wait for the soil and air to warm up to get started.
But there are negative points:
- Expiration dates. The resulting crop is not suitable for long-term storage.
- Germination. There is a risk that crops will die during the thaw or frost.
Beet variety selection for winter planting
It is very important to correctly determine the varietal characteristics of beets, which are planned to be planted in the autumn. It depends on how well the culture will germinate, and what kind of harvest will be obtained in the end.
Criteria to consider:
- cold resistance;
- large weight and size;
- good germination.
Most often, varieties of early ripening are chosen, since they are less susceptible to shooting.
Popular with winter landing are:
The suitability of the variety for winter sowing is usually prescribed on the package with seeds.
Preparation for landing
Pre-sowing works can improve the quality of the crop. The main types of events that need to be taken are described below.
Seat selection
It is better to do this in advance - in September-October.
Fundamental rules:
- Location The bed should be on a hill so that it is not flooded during the snow melting period. Avoid areas under the surface of which groundwater occurs.
- Warming up. Preference is given to areas open to sunlight.
- The soil. Rich in humus, light, with neutral acidity.
- Crop rotation. Onions, potatoes, and cucumbers are considered good predecessors. Do not plant in the beds where cabbage, carrots or beets previously grew.
Seed treatment
Usually occurs just before planting the crop in the soil.
What do we have to do:
- take 200 ml of water and warm to 45 degrees;
- add potassium permanganate to get a weak solution;
- lower the seeds for 30-60 minutes;
- spread out to dry on porous paper.
Dry seeds are used for sowing. Such treatment will help protect crops from diseases, provide an optimal level of humidity.
Soil preparation
It is necessary for better germination of seeds and enrichment of the soil with useful substances. Allows you to eliminate the existing shortcomings in advance.
How does it happen:
- remove garbage, weeds and the remains of past plantings;
- dig a site;
- add for each square. m mixture of 4 kg of compost, 60 g of potassium and 50 g of superphosphate;
- loosen the ground;
- level with a rake.
If the soil is acidic, sprinkle it with wood ash or dolomite flour.
Winter sowing
This is the main stage for planting beets. Therefore, increased attention should be paid to the prescribed instructions.
Dates of autumn planting in different regions
Work should begin until the ground is too frozen and amenable to digging.
For each climatic zone, the sowing period differs:
- North. Colds come much faster, so it is recommended to start activities in late September-mid-October.
- Middle lane. Planting is carried out after the first frost, approximately in the middle of November.
- South. Winter comes much later, so sowing can be done from November to early December.
Technology and scheme for sowing beets for the winter
Sowing is recommended during the period when the threat of thaws has passed.
Instructions:
- make grooves 3-5 cm deep;
- spread the seeds at a distance of 4-6 cm from each other, observing the intervals between rows of 30-40 cm;
- sprinkle with a layer of warm garden soil or a mixture of soil, sand and compost in equal proportions;
- mulch with peat.
Watering crops is not recommended.
Follow-up care
You need to properly take care of the beds in order to provide better germination and productivity. Further on what can be done.
When and what to cover for the winter?
The procedure is necessary to protect crops from premature seedlings and death. It is carried out immediately after sowing.
What is used:
- sawdust;
- spruce branches;
- dry leaves;
- snow.
What to do with the garden in spring?
There is no need to rush to remove the snow, as it contributes to additional heating of the beds.
Instead of this:
- sprinkle the snow cover with coal dust or wood ash;
- install arcs on which to stretch the film or non-woven fabric at night or in cloudy weather.
When it gets warm, remove the cover and move the mulch layer.
After the appearance of 2 real leaves in the sprouts, thinning is necessary to avoid planting accuracy. For this, the plants are removed, leaving a distance of 4-5 cm between the shoots. Root crops that have survived the winter take root well in other areas, so the shoots can be transplanted.
Useful Tips
You should pay attention to the recommendations of experienced gardeners:
- Temperature. The optimal time for sowing comes when the soil retains heat at about 2-4 degrees, and outside temperatures are below zero.
- Weather. Even if it snowed in the yard, this is not a reason to postpone the landing. It can be simply swept aside to clear the area.
- Amount. 25-30% more seeds should be used than during spring work. This increases the chances of germination.
Autumn beet planting has a number of undeniable advantages. This is a higher resistance of root crops to changeable weather conditions, a decrease in time costs and an early harvest. But in order to grow high quality fruits, you need to take care of the correct choice of the variety and compliance with agricultural standards.
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Russia. City: Dimitrovgrad
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