How and how to feed beets for growth?

In the wild, plants develop without human assistance. As for cultivated varieties, they need careful maintenance, as well as timely fertilization.

Beets need feeding at all stages of growth. It requires elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, boron, calcium and magnesium. Do not forget that fertilizers are applied in certain quantities. Also, at different stages of development, the root crop requires different substances. Before you start fertilizing, you need to figure out how external signs of a lack or an excess of nutrient minerals appear. Indeed, with an excess of fertilizers, it is strictly forbidden to feed the beets further.

Mineral deficiencies can be recognized by the following changes:

• discolored dead tops;
• deep red or purple leaves;
• crushing of leaves, redness of the foliar part;
• yellowing of leaves and their drying;
• stopping foliage growth;
• lack of new leaves.

Lack of useful elements can lead to such a dangerous disease as necrosis. This virus causes the root to shrink. The plant becomes unable to absorb moisture and dies. Also, a lack of nutrients leads to a decrease in fruit.

An oversupply of fertilizers is manifested as follows:

• an increase in the size of the tops is disproportionate to the growth of the fetus;
• the appearance of brown-red spots on the foliage;
• foliage brightens, slows down growth;
• the development of chlorosis;
• the appearance of foci of necrosis;
• dying off of the root system.

If there is an excess of fertilizer, it is necessary to shed the soil. The land is watered abundantly to flush out substances toxic to plants. If possible, you can transplant the culture by replacing the soil. You cannot start feeding the beets again. First, you only need to apply 25% of the recommended fertilizer dose. Then increase to 50%. Then, if everything is fine with the plant, the dose is increased to 100%.

To increase productivity and accelerate development, mineral and organic fertilizers are used. There are many commercial fertilizers that can significantly improve the development of plants. Such funds are very effective due to the high concentration of the elements they contain. Of course, some of them can accumulate in the fruits and leaves of beets, which is undesirable if the goal is to obtain an environmentally friendly product.

Organics have a positive effect on both the root and the foliar part. However, such a remedy is less effective. At the same time, natural fertilizers not only do not accumulate in the form of harmful pesticides, but also increase soil fertility. There are several ways to apply top dressing.

This method consists of applying fertilizer at the root without affecting the foliage. In order for fertilizers to work more actively, trenches are dug between the beet beds. The nutrient solution is poured into it. After applying top dressing in this way, it is imperative to water the plants in order to prevent root burning.

Fertilizers suitable for root dressing include the following options.

• Ammonium nitrate. This fertilizer contains 25-30% nitrogen, which is necessary for beets at the initial stage of growth. Nitrogen is involved in the formation of chlorophyll. That is why plants need it so much. Ammonium nitrate is applied once 21 days after planting beet seedlings. The granules are poured between the rows. For 1 m2, 5-10 g will be enough. You can also use a liquid solution. To do this, dilute 30-35 g per 10 liters of water.
• Urea... The principle of using urea is similar to using ammonium nitrate. Urea is also a nitrogen source. Therefore, this tool is applied when foliage begins to grow and form. You can replace urea with dolomite flour. But it is undesirable to use them together.
• Superphosphate... It is a universal fertilizer, as it is suitable for most horticultural crops, as well as for any soil. Top dressing is carried out before planting seedlings. Superphosphate granules are laid out in the pits.
• Yeast... Yeast introduced into the soil accelerates plant growth due to the fact that the fermentation process enriches the soil with nitrogen and potassium. The recipe for yeast feeding is simple: 1 kg of yeast is diluted with 5 liters of water. Then the solution must be insisted for 1.5-2 hours. Thereafter, the mixture is diluted 1: 10.
• Complex fertilizers. Such funds can significantly improve the development of beet tops and root crops. There are several options for fertilizing the plant this way. 0.03 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate and double superphosphate are diluted with 10 liters of water. Beets are watered with this solution in early spring. When the foliage closes, the formation of a root crop begins.

Foliar fertilization is foliar spraying. This type of feeding is considered additional. The advantage of the foliar method is the ability to spray beets at all stages of growth.

• Urea solution is used for irrigation. For 10-12 liters, only 0.02 kg of the product is enough.
• You can spray beets with a weak solution of manganese. Plants are sprayed 5 times throughout the season. Manganese treatment is also useful because it protects root crops from gray rot.
• Boric acid solution is used as foliar feeding... Table salt is added to it. Boric acid and salt are dissolved with a bucket of water. Then the spraying procedure is carried out. It is important to work with boric acid, wearing a respirator and goggles, as fumes can harm the respiratory tract, because boric acid is classified as class 4 toxic.
• It is worth remembering that pure bird droppings and manure are harmful to beets. They burn the root system. It is advisable to make such funds mainly on poor soils. Poultry droppings are used only by greatly diluting it. For 12 liters of water, 1 kg of manure is enough. This means the aisles are watered.

Folk infusions and decoctions are an excellent alternative to all kinds of fertilizers. Such products saturate the beets with useful elements, without harming either the plant itself or the soil.

• Ash... Wood ash is a source of lime, silicon, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and many other elements. Also, the use of ash can protect beets from parasites and diseases. In order for the root crop to receive the maximum amount of nutrients and grow better, the product is applied fresh. The content of useful elements in the lying ash is much less. Ash is placed in the aisles to a depth of 4-6 cm and covered with earth. Then watering is carried out to prevent ash from washing out. Ash obtained from burning weeds, other deciduous and herbaceous plants is better suited than wood ash. This top dressing can be used both after emergence and before planting seedlings.
• Garlic infusion. For the rapid formation of a deciduous system, beets need nitrogen. Garlic infusion is rich in this element. To prepare it, a small container is filled with weeds, leaves of root vegetables, chopped garlic in proportions of 2: 1. The mixture is infused for 14 days. The resulting infusion is diluted with 10 liters of water. The solution can be poured over the root of the beets or sprayed around the leaves and soil.
• Salt... An excellent addition to the beet feed scheme will be table salt without the addition of iodine. Salt contains sodium, which contributes to the accumulation of sugar in the root vegetable. The loose substance is used for both root and foliar dressing. For application in open ground, 4 teaspoons are diluted with 10-12 liters of water. This solution is poured over the root of the beets. 10 liters of solution are consumed per 1 m2. For spraying with 10 liters of water, dilute with 8 teaspoons of salt.
• Nettle tincture. Nettle contains elements such as magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. For infusion, only nettles that are intact by diseases and pests are used. It is also important to use grass that has not yet developed flower ovaries. The infusion is prepared as follows: chopped nettle is mixed with yeast or sourdough. Then it is diluted with a liter of warm boiled water. After that, it is tightly closed and removed to a dark place for 14 days. It is necessary to stir the infusion once a day. The resulting solution is filtered and diluted with a bucket of water. Beet infusion can be used once a week.

For information on what and how to feed beets for growth, see the next video.