Bordeaux beets – abundance in the garden

Bordeaux is an unpretentious and productive variety of sweet beets. The culture grows abundantly and amicably in conditions of dry, warm weather and the absence of prolonged rains, it bears fruit with beautiful burgundy root crops for table purposes. They can be eaten immediately or stored until the next season.

Beet Bordeaux

Bordeaux beets - abundance in the garden

Beet Bordeaux has a rich color

Bordeaux beets - abundance in the garden

Bordeaux beets have juicy and sweet pulp

Description of Bordeaux beet varieties

In 1937, domestic breeders managed to breed burgundy beets for cultivation in the southern regions. Now it is presented in two varieties:

  • Bordeaux 237. The original variety of vegetable. It was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 1943 at the request of the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing.
    Bordeaux single-seeded
  • Bordeaux single-seeded. It is a “descendant” of the previous variety and bred by breeders in 2003. The main difference between them is that single-seed crops do not need primary thinning, since only one sprout is obtained from each seed.
    Bordeaux single-seeded

The characteristics of two varieties of Bordeaux beets can be found in the table:

Parameter Description Ripening time Bordeaux 237 is a mid-early variety that ripens within 80-95 days in warm conditions and 110-115 days in cool conditions. Bordeaux single-seeded is its earlier version, so the growing season before harvest is on average 60-65 days. Cultivation regions This beet variety is heat-resistant, so it grows well in fields and in gardens during the hot, long summer season. In this regard, it is better to cultivate it in the warm regions of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and other CIS countries.

Meanwhile, a good harvest can also be obtained in the central zone of the Russian Federation, where there is a temperate continental climate. In such conditions, Bordeaux will steadfastly withstand short droughts, colds and temperature changes.

Leaf rosette The plant grows in a dense bush with dark pink or burgundy long petioles. The leaf socket turns out to be semi-upright and medium in size, but at the same time it looks compact. The leaves themselves are wide, oval and with wavy rims. In length, they reach 35-40 cm.

The leaf plate has a glossy and slightly bubbly surface, dark green color, diluted with pronounced red streaks, colored with anthocyanins.

The leaves of the plant are edible. They can be collected as they grow. Young greens have the best taste.

Root crops Bordeaux 237 bears fruit with large root crops weighing an average of 250-500 g, but Bordeaux one-seeded will please with smaller heads weighing up to 150-230 g. Otherwise, these varieties do not differ and their root crops with thin, small roots can be recognized by the following parameters:

  • form – rounded, slightly flattened;
  • diameter – from 12 to 15 cm;
  • skin – dense and elastic with a dark red matte finish;
  • flesh – dense, tender and juicy, with high sugar content and intense burgundy color, which does not change after heat treatment;
  • section – uniform, bright red with barely noticeable ringing.

The smallest root crops, which are formed in the middle and end of July, are also suitable for eating. They can be used for cooking any dishes and boiled. Boiled beets not only retain their rich color, but also the pleasant juiciness of the pulp.

Seeds Beet seeds are large (2-4 mm), have the shape of a polyhedron and are dark brown in color. They are enclosed in a dry box, and their surface is covered with cavities. Seeds can be prepared independently or purchased at a garden store. As a standard, planting material cannot be stored for more than 2 years. Yield The amount of harvested depends on the specific weather conditions. Cold, wet summers with low temperatures will slow down the formation of root crops. On average, from 1 sq. m beds manage to get from 4 to 8 kg of root crops buried up to half in the ground. When grown on an industrial scale, the yield is from 70 to 90 tons per 1 ha. A distinctive feature of this beet is that in the southern regions it is able to produce a crop several times a year. Keeping quality Due to the dense skin, root crops can be stored for 6 months or more. They can be transported without the risk of loss of commercial qualities. Disease resistance Bordeaux beets have poor resistance to peronosporosis and cercosporosis.

Bordeaux single-seeded

Terms of sowing

When sowing seeds directly in open ground, work can be carried out at different times of the year:

  • In the spring. To get an early harvest, in the southern regions, sowing can be done from mid to late April, when the soil warms up to + 9-10 ° C in the daytime. The optimum air temperature is not lower than +5°C. With this sowing, the roots will be suitable for harvesting in July.
    If the vegetable is planned to be laid for long-term storage, it is better to sow the seeds at the end of May. Ripe beets can be obtained in August.
  • Lettom. For better preservation of root crops, seeds can be sown in June. They can be harvested in autumn.
  • In autumn (winter sowing). Bordeaux beets can be sown before winter to get an early harvest, although ripe root crops will not have good keeping quality. The best time for sowing is in October or early November before frost and at a soil temperature of at least -5°C. Such a landing should be mulched with needles and sawdust.

The best temperature for active beet growth is +22°C, although seedlings can withstand short-term temperatures as low as -2°C. In the case of prolonged cold weather, they will stop growing and die.

In addition to direct sowing in the ground, Bordeaux beets can be cultivated in seedlings. It will allow you to get an earlier harvest, although the root crops will not be unsuitable for storage until the next season.

In a greenhouse, seeds can be sown for seedlings in mid-March, and in greenhouses in late March or early April. In May, when the soil warms up to +10°C, the sprouts can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Site selection and soil preparation

Bordeaux beets are demanding on the place of cultivation, so when choosing it, you should definitely consider the following rules:

  • The area for sowing should be well lit and warmed up by the sun’s rays, since half of the vegetable, when ripe, is above the ground and needs heat in order to actively develop and gain sugar content. Shading and drafts are unacceptable.
  • Desirable deep groundwater.
  • In the same place, a vegetable can be grown no more than 4 seasons in a row. It cannot be planted after other varieties of beets and cabbage, but good predecessors are:
    • potatoes;
    • tomatoes;
    • cucumbers.
  • The soil should be fertile and loose with a deep arable layer. The acidity of the soil is only mild or neutral, otherwise the roots will turn out to be small and fibrous.

A plot with suitable parameters must be prepared for beets in advance, following these instructions:

  1. In autumn, scatter humus from cow dung or last year’s compost over the surface of the site. It can also be poured with a solution of bird droppings (1:20) and wood ash added at the rate of 3 cups per 1 sq. m. Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied only in small quantities, since beet root crops tend to accumulate nitrates. After making them, dig the area onto the bayonet of a shovel.
  2. In the spring, apply complex mineral fertilizers. Most beets are responsive to potassium chloride and superphosphate. If you want to reduce the acidity of the soil, also add dolomite flour.
  3. After digging, form beds of high or medium height in the area. Experienced vegetable growers also grow Bordeaux beets in soil-formed ridges.

Planting material processing

Before sowing, the seeds must be subjected to the following treatment:

  1. Sort, leaving equally large copies of them.
  2. Soak in a weak manganese solution for a few minutes to disinfect and rinse under running water. To increase resistance to cercosporosis, seeds should also be treated with Agat-25K. Disinfection with Apron disinfectant will protect future plantings from downy mildew.
  3. To stimulate growth, dip the seeds for 12-24 hours in warm water, into which first add a pinch of soda and 1 tsp each. ash, boric acid and superphosphate.

Before sowing, some gardeners also germinate beet seeds, but this measure is more justified if they are sown for seedlings, as it will help them hatch faster.

Sowing seeds in the ground

With the advent of optimal timing, you need to start sowing seeds, adhering to the following instructions:

  1. Dig furrows in the ground 3-4 cm deep at a distance of 6-8 cm. If sowing is planned to be carried out in rows, keep about 25-30 between them so as not to thicken the planting and provide each bush with the proper amount of light.
  2. Pour humus into the prepared grooves to feed the root crops and ash to reduce the acidity of the soil. Such manipulations can be skipped in case of good preparation of the beds.
  3. Sow the seeds, sprinkle them with earth by 3-4 cm and pour water from a watering can. Their optimal consumption is 7-10 g per 1 sq. m.

Planting beets

Experienced gardeners prefer to sow Bordeaux along the edges of the beds, which allows more economical use of space on the site. Good neighbors of beets will be:

  • tomatoes;
  • cucumbers;
  • garlic;
  • salad;
  • radish.

These crops do not oppress each other, so their yield will be at the highest level.

Features of planting through seedlings

If the decision is made to cultivate beets in seedlings, first of all, you need to grow strong seedlings, which can be done in a snail or ordinary containers with a nutrient soil mixture. In the seedling period, it is desirable to treat the culture with the fungicide Rovral Aquaflo to prevent cercosporosis.

After 4-5 weeks, when the seedlings get stronger and acquire several true leaves, they can be transplanted with a clod of earth into the grooves prepared in advance according to the above scheme. You need to act carefully so as not to damage their delicate roots, otherwise it will negatively affect the formation of root crops.

The first landing time should be shaded so that they quickly adapt to new conditions. In cold weather, you need to cover the seedlings with spunbond.

landing care

In no case should beets be hilled, as this will prevent root crops from receiving the right amount of solar heat. However, there are a number of agrotechnical measures that are mandatory.

Watering

Bordeaux beets love moisture, so you need to organize competent watering of the crop according to the following scheme:

  1. Water abundantly at the beginning of the growing season, using the sprinkling method, drip irrigation or basal saturation with moisture. This event can be performed 1-2 times a week in dry and hot weather. On rainy days, it is better to delay watering.
  2. In especially dry periods, water the row daily or once every two days to prevent the soil from drying out, otherwise this will cause the death of germinating seeds or cracking of root crops.
  3. From the moment the heads form, reduce the frequency of watering to 1 time in 10-14 days.
  4. At the beginning and end of summer, water the beets with saline so that the roots turn out sweet and can be stored until the next season. To prepare it, it is enough to dilute 10 g of table salt in 30 liters of water. If possible, you can use sodium nitrate (50 g per 10 liters of water).
  5. 3-4 weeks before the expected harvest, completely interrupt the watering of the crop, otherwise the fruits will turn out to be watery.

Thinning

When planting beets with seeds in the ground, you need to regularly thin out strong sprouts. It is best to do this in the fruiting phase. Weak plants need to be removed, and strong bushes should be left on the beds, keeping equal intervals between them at least 15-25 cm long.

Soil treatment

After watering or rains, the bed must be carefully loosened with a pitchfork to provide the root crops with enough oxygen. At the same time, you need to weed the weeds, otherwise it will suck out too many nutrients from the soil to the detriment of the beets.

Feeding

If you properly feed the culture, then by the end of the growing season you can get large root crops with dense, juicy and moderately sweet pulp. Here is the optimal feeding scheme:

  1. 2 weeks after sowing, water the seedlings with herbal infusion, which is best prepared in the spring, when young juicy grass blooms – nettle, sweet clover, dandelion, etc. You need to prepare the infusion as follows:
    • fill a bathroom or other container by a third with young mowed grass;
    • add 5 liters of ash, 1 pack of Persian yeast and 1-1,5 liters of whey;
    • pour water into the container to the brim and mix thoroughly;
    • insist the mixture for 2-3 weeks (when the nettle and sweet clover dissolve, the composition will be ready).

    The resulting infusion can be watered with beets 3 times a season, but always in a diluted form – at the rate of 1:10 for sprinkling and 1:3 for root dressing.

  2. At the initial stage of development, feed the plant with nitrogen fertilizers. The best option is mullein, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. You should not overdo it with such a fertilizer, otherwise the shock dose of nitrogen will contribute to the rapid development of tops to the detriment of root crops.
  3. When the leaves begin to close together, feed the beets with calcium nitrate and phosphorus. Also sprinkle ashes on the bed (1/2 cup per 1 sq. M) and seal it into the soil.
  4. In August, pour beets with ash infusion, for the preparation of which 1 kg of ash is soaked for a day in 10 liters of water.

Beet top dressing

Protection against diseases and pests

Bordeaux beet varieties are resistant to many diseases, but the following pathologies pose a danger to them:

  • Phimosis (heart rot). A fungal disease that is dangerous for root crops during winter storage. It appears as black spots on the tail and upper parts of the heads. Inside such formations, velvety white rot is visible. So that phimosis does not destroy the entire crop, beets should not be allowed to be planted in alkaline soils. If signs of the disease are found, the affected specimens must be discarded and destroyed, otherwise the fungus will spread to healthy root crops.
  • Cerkosporoz. The fungus infects beet tops, which are covered with necrotic spots with a red or brown border. Brown blotches are visible on the trunks.
    The disease develops actively in wet weather. As a result, it causes the death of all tops and prevents the growth of root crops. Cercosporosis cannot be cured, so all diseased plants will have to be destroyed.
  • Downy mildew (downy mildew). It attacks the leaves and flower stalks of the plant, causing the formation of a gray-purple bloom on the tops. Gradually, the leaves become pale and brittle, twist towards the ground. Then they turn black and die. In parallel, rotting of the ground part of the plant occurs, and the fruits become smaller, lose their sugar content and become prone to rotting during storage. Downy mildew cannot be cured, so diseased plants will need to be destroyed.

To prevent the development of these diseases, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, disinfect the soil and seeds.

Among pests, only sugar beet pests can infect a garden bed, among which the main ones are:

  • Cicadas. In the fight against them, the ground part of the plant must be treated with contact and systemic insecticides.
  • leaf beetle. Affected leaves should be cut off and destroyed away from the garden.
  • Aphids (leaf, root). Rotenone and Malathion drugs will help from it.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Harvesting root crops on time will not cause any particular problems, since the root crops are partially above the ground and are easily pulled out of it if they are first slightly dug with a shovel.

Beets can be stored for 5-6 months without loss of consumer qualities if kept at a temperature of -1…+2°C. At higher temperatures, the vegetable will actively spend moisture, which will make it flabby.

The best storage location is the cellar, where root crops can be kept in boxes of damp sand or in baskets on the floor. They can be mixed with potato tubers beforehand.

A small amount of beetroot can be stored in the refrigerator for a long time by placing it in the vegetable drawer.

Pros and Cons of Bordeaux Beets

The strengths of burgundy beets are as follows:

  • good commercial and taste qualities;
  • the ability to store for a long time without loss of taste, density and aroma;
  • resistance to transportation over long distances;
  • resistance to dry and hot weather;
  • high yield and almost 100% germination.

As for the shortcomings, gardeners often note the following:

  • unplanned picking of Bordeaux 237, as sometimes 2-3 sprouts are formed from one seed;
  • the need for a large growing area in order to maintain sufficient gaps between plants and allow root crops to grow to the size declared by the manufacturer.

Grade Reviews

Dmitry, 29 years old. Among all varieties of beets, Bordeaux has long been cultivated. It sprouts well and produces rounded roots. We immediately eat the largest of them, and the rest, if possible, lay them in storage. From this beet, excellent borscht and other “red” warm dishes are obtained, since it does not lose its color during heat treatment. I recommend to everyone! Elina Vasilievna, 48 years old. My family prefers large beets, so it is traditional to grow Bordeaux. The flesh is dark red with a good taste, although I cannot say that it is much better than other varieties. The variety endures hot summers and does not dry out, which is extremely important for me as a resident of the southern region. In addition, the beets are not late, so you don’t have to wait long to taste a fresh vegetable. Natalya Yurievna, 51 years old. This year I was very pleased with the amount of the harvest – from 4 small beds I collected 10 kg of neat root crops weighing up to 500 g. To achieve such results, I advise you to properly thin out the plants, leaving between about 20 cm.

In the next video, the gardener will show his garden with Bordeaux beets and tell you how to cultivate it correctly to get large, fleshy root crops:

Bordeaux beet belongs to high bushy crops, bearing large root crops. Varieties of this type are resistant to heat and undemanding to care for, therefore they are favorites of many gardeners. Root crops can be widely used in cooking or subjected to long-term storage in the cellar until the next season.

Anna Evans

Author-editor

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