How to plant beets in autumn?

In 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 learn about how the preparation for sowing work, planting beets and subsequent care of the beds take place while reading this article.

Advantages and disadvantages of autumn planting beets

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 before the onset of spring.

The advantages include:

  • hardening. It is a natural factor. Plants that grow from seeds are more resistant to climate change and lack of moisture.
  • Saving time. In the spring, gardeners already have enough worries, so planting beets in the fall allows you to reduce the load in the future.
  • Early harvest. The fruits are formed 2-3 weeks earlier than with the traditional method of sowing.
  • Independence from weather conditions. No need to wait until the soil and air warm up to start work.

But there are downsides:

  • Expiration dates. The resulting crop is not suitable for long-term storage.
  • Germination. There is a risk that crops will die during a thaw or frost.

Choosing a beet variety for sowing before winter

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 crop will germinate, and what crop will be obtained in the end.

Criteria to pay attention to:

  • resistance to cold;
  • large weight and size;
  • good germination.

Most often, varieties of early ripeness are chosen, since they are less prone to bolting.

Popular for winter planting are:

The suitability of a variety for winter sowing is usually indicated on the package with seeds.

Preparing for planting

Performing pre-sowing work allows you to improve the quality of the crop. The main types of activities that need to be led are described below.

Site Selection

It is better to do this in advance – in September-October.

Basic rules:

  • Location. The bed should be on a hill so that it is not flooded during the snowmelt period. Avoid areas under the surface of which groundwater occurs.
  • Warming up Preference is given to an area open to sunlight.
  • The soil. Rich in humus, light, with neutral acidity.
  • The all-rounder. Onions, potatoes, cucumbers are considered good predecessors. Do not plant in beds where cabbage, carrots or beets have previously grown.

seed Processing

Usually occurs just before planting the crop in the soil.

What do we have to do:

  • take 200 ml of water and warm up to 45 degrees;
  • add potassium permanganate to get a weak solution;
  • soak the seeds for 30-60 minutes;
  • lay 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

Needed for better seed germination and soil enrichment with useful substances. Allows you to eliminate existing shortcomings in advance.

How it happens:

  • remove debris, weeds and remnants of past plantings;
  • dig the site;
  • enter for each sq. m a mixture of 4 kg of compost, 60 g of potassium and 50 – superphosphate;
  • loosen the ground;
  • level with a rake.

If the soil is acidic, sprinkle it with wood ash or dolomite flour.

Podzimniy sowing

This is the main stage of planting beets. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the prescribed instructions.

Autumn planting dates in different regions

Work should begin before the ground is frozen too hard and lends itself to digging.

For each climatic zone, the sowing period is different:

  • North. Colds come much faster, so it is recommended to start activities in late September-mid-October.
  • Middle lane. Planting is done after the first frost, around mid-November.
  • South. Winter comes much later, so sowing can be done from November to early December.

Technology and scheme of sowing beets before winter

Sowing is recommended during the period when the threat of thaw 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.

You can find out the detailed process and features of planting beets in the autumn while watching the video below:

Aftercare

It is necessary to properly care for the beds in order to ensure the best germination and yield. More on what can be done.

When and how to cover for the winter?

The procedure is necessary to protect crops from premature germination and death. It is carried out immediately after sowing.

What is used:

  • sawdust;
  • spruce branches;
  • dry leaves;
  • snow.

What to do with the bed in the spring?

There is no need to rush to remove the snow, as it contributes to the additional heating of the beds.

Instead of this:

  • sprinkle the snow cover with coal dust or wood ash;
  • install arcs on which at night or in cloudy weather stretch a film or non-woven fabric.

With the onset of heat, remove the shelter and move the layer of mulch.

After the sprouts have 2 true leaves, thinning should be carried out to avoid planting grouping. For this, the plants are removed, leaving a distance of 4-5 cm between shoots. Root crops that survived the winter take root well in other areas, so the sprouts 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 around 2-4 degrees, and the temperature outside is below zero.
  • Weather. Even if it snowed in the yard, this is not a reason to postpone the landing. It can simply be swept aside to clear the area.
  • Amount. 25-30% more seeds should be used than during the spring work period. This increases the chances of germination.

Autumn planting beets has a number of undeniable advantages. This is a higher resistance of root crops to changeable weather conditions, a reduction in time costs and an early harvest. But in order to grow high-quality fruits, you need to take care of the right choice of variety and compliance with agricultural standards.

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Anna Evans

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