| We have had alot of cloudy and overcast days and rain for the month of May. We planted beets ON May 1, it has now been 60 days which is the time recommended for harvesting. But we have very nice tops and only 1/4 inch size of beet. Would it be advantageous to leave these plants in, or should we plan on planting a new crop? If we do leave them in how much longer? |
| You are right in guessing that beets need plenty of sunshine. They also need a rich soil well enriched with organic matter, and if your soil is heavy, also a bit of sand to keep the soil loose. The soil should stay evenly moist and yet be well drained with the pH near 7.0 or neutral. Finally, avoid oversupllying the plants with nitrogen. You might want to eat the greens and "thinnings" and plant again, although they might plump up a little bit with some sunshine. Beets can be planted every few weeks for an ongoing supply. General instructions would be to: Amend the soil by spreading 4-5 inches of organic matter over the top and digging it in to a depth of 8-10 inches. Use aged compost, leaf mold, peat moss or aged manure. Based upon your description of the unsuccessful crops, I'd guess your soil was on the clayey side. If that's the case, add even more organic material, and some sand, too. Do whatever you can to loosen the soil and make it easier for the roots to penetrate a good 8-10 inches. The organic matter will help the soil retain moisture and stay aerated and will release nutrients to the plant roots as it decomposes. After planting, keep the soil evenly moist by supplying water every week if needed. Make sure you apply enough water to thoroughly wet the entire root area. To check, dig down after watering to see how far the moisture has penetrated. This is especially important when temperatures are over 80 degrees. |
