Fertilizing beets in open ground: fertilizers, application rules, timing

Every vegetable crop needs additional fertilizer. Despite the fact that beets are considered quite unpretentious, they are also no exception to this rule. In order for root crops to have optimal weight and have a beautiful shape, the soil must contain a sufficient amount of essential microelements and nutrients for them. If the soil is depleted, the beets will grow small, fibrous and almost tasteless.

In order for the harvest to be good, you need to feed it in a timely manner and know some rules.

Since each ripening period has its own set of nutrients, it is very important to apply them correctly - according to a specific schedule. At the beginning of the growing season, beets need nitrogen, at the end - phosphorus and potassium.

Important! Even if beets are planted on fertile soil, they also need additional feeding. A constant supply of sodium gives it a rich, sweet taste. To do this, this element must be added in the form of sodium nitrate or table salt.

Why feed beets?

Beetroot is a hardy and unpretentious crop that does not require much effort from gardeners. But such undemandingness often plays a cruel joke on the owners of the beds - the beets grow, but the quality of its root crops is low.

Beet fertilizers are necessary to form root crops:

in accordance with varietal sizes;
sweet and tasty;
not hard or fibrous.

Lack of fertilizing can lead to beets growing completely inedible.

When growing beets, it is important to apply fertilizers according to the schedule - each growing season has its own set of fertilizers. At the beginning of the growing season, beets need nitrogen, at the end - phosphorus and potassium.

To grow tasty and sweet beets, you need to feed them even on fertile soils. The sweetness and taste of root vegetables is ensured by sodium - the crop is supplied with this element by adding sodium nitrate or table salt to the soil.

What minerals do root vegetables need?

The mineral requirements of root crops in open ground are largely similar. Both beets and carrots need nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. But at different stages of the growing season, the amount of these minerals must correspond to the needs of the crop.

Nitrogen is necessary for leaf growth and normalization of plant photosynthesis. Thanks to phosphorus, a strong root system is formed. For beets in open ground, phosphorus is needed from the moment the first leaves appear until the roots ripen. Potassium supports intense photosynthesis in leaves and stems. When the mineral is deficient, carrots and beets are susceptible to fungal infections.

Calcium is necessary to speed up seed germination. Boron and manganese are needed by crops to protect them from various types of rot.

How to understand what elements beets lack?

Experienced gardeners recognize a lack of nutrients by the appearance of the beets.

Signs of nutritional deficiency:

Nitrogen. Typically, a shortage of this element is observed at the beginning of the growing season. The main sign of nitrogen deficiency is pale and frail tops.
Potassium. Observed in the middle of the growing season. The tops acquire a dark red and even purple color. Yellow spots appear on the leaves, they curl and dry out. If fertilizing is not applied in time, necrosis develops on the leaves.
Phosphorus. Usually observed on light acidic soils that lack organic matter. The leaves become small, the above-ground part turns red, and the tops stop growing. Root vegetables do not form and do not accumulate sugar.
Magnesium. The lower leaves become light. Yellow spots appear on the tops, and then necrotic lesions appear.
Sodium. The tops take on a red tint.
Bor. The core rots. Young leaves do not develop. The growing point dies.

An excess of nutrients can be just as harmful as a lack of them.

Signs of overnutrition:

Nitrogen. The leaves become dark green, large, juicy. Root crops are stunted.
Potassium. Growth slows, leaves become light green and covered with brown spots.
Phosphorus. Chlorosis appears on the leaves. Then tissue necrosis is observed on the tops, it turns yellow and dies.
Magnesium. The roots die off and the plant does not absorb calcium.

What beets need and how to recognize starvation

Crops that have a developed underground part require regular feeding. This is due to developmental characteristics. During the period of its existence, the plant moves from the stage of active above-ground development to the development and growth of the underground part.

Beets love a variety of feedings. At each stage of development it needs different complexes. It is especially important to fertilize the crop after the appearance of full-fledged tops.

Signs that beets need urgent feeding:

the appearance of yellow spots on parts of the plant;
leaves develop poorly;
the core begins to rot.

The need to introduce important elements can be determined by a more thorough analysis of the appearance of the plants.

Sign	Lack of element	What to feed
Redness of the tops, the appearance of red veins on the leaf blades	Sodium	Salt solutions according to the scheme
Formation of yellow spots on the leaves, yellowing of the middle of the stems	Potassium	Lime solutions, mineral complexes
Slow growth, sluggish development of the aerial parts	Nitrogen	Urea, ammonium nitrate, wood ash
Yellowness and falling of leaf blades, rotting at the base	Bor	Boric acid, sulfur, aluminum sulfate
Pale leaves, curling at the edges, reddening of the central veins	Molybdenum	Foliar feeding with mineral complexes
Stunted growth, small roots, appearance of a purple tint on the leaves	Phosphorus	Feeding with superphosphates

Types of fertilizers

All means are good for feeding beets. Along with purchased chemical fertilizers, gardeners actively use natural fertilizers.

Mineral

Mineral fertilizers are a product of the chemical industry. You can buy them at any agricultural store. The advantage of mineral fertilizers is ease of use, concentration of nutrients and high efficiency.

What mineral fertilizers are recommended to feed beets:

ammonium nitrate;
urea;
superphosphate;
potassium sulfate;
potassium chloride.

Organic

Beets respond well to organic matter. Organic fertilizers contain the same nutritional elements as commercial chemicals, and in an easily digestible form.

Manure or bird droppings are used to add nitrogen to the soil. Wood ash is a source of other useful substances. By using only these two organic fertilizers, you can grow beets without mineral analogues.

Other popular organic fertilizers are humus, compost, nettle infusion, peat and other natural products.

Complex

Along with simple mineral fertilizers, beets can be fed with complex formulations. Their difference from simple ones is the content of not one, but two or three main elements at once. The most famous complex fertilizers are nitrophoska, ammophoska, nitroammophoska, etc.

To feed beets, complex fertilizers are also used, which contain microelements that are important specifically for this crop. Thanks to a balanced set of elements, you can limit yourself to using one complex fertilizer throughout the entire growing season.

Features of growing beets

This root crop responds well to fertilizing, but fertilizers should be applied with caution. This especially applies to nitrogen fertilizing. Excess nitrogen will lead to the fact that the planted area will turn into a continuous carpet of powerful tops, and the growth of root crops will slow down significantly. It follows from this that fresh organic fertilizers cannot be used, since their nitrogen content is simply off scale.

Feeding beets only seems like a simple matter, in fact, it requires attention and regularity, just like feeding other vegetable crops. Beets prefer to grow in a sunny area; shade does not contribute to the formation of root crops. But under the sun, even the color of the fruit will be brighter and more saturated.

In addition to good lighting, the plant also needs regular watering, especially after germination, when the sprouts gain strength and the root crop begins to thicken. It is better to water early in the morning or in the evening, pouring about 1.5-2 buckets of water per square meter of soil. A month before the beet harvest, reduce the rate and frequency of watering by half to prevent waterlogging and reduce the quality of the root crop.

The soil

The most suitable soil pH is from 6.2 to 7.0. More acidic soil should be limed to prevent scab from appearing on the plant. If yellow round spots nevertheless appear on the tops, prepare lime milk and water the beet plantings.

How to make lime milk:

fluff lime – 0.2 kg stir in a bucket of water;
add potassium chloride – 80 g;
water the beet plantings, the application rate is a bucket of mixture for 10 linear meters;
After a couple of weeks, re-feed.

To grow this root crop successfully, follow crop rotation. It is good to plant beets after potatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes.

Under these vegetables, the soil is always filled with organic fertilizers, which, as a rule, have already been thoroughly decomposed and partially absorbed by the plants. It is this environment that is comfortable for root crops.

It’s good if it is possible to fill the bed with non-acidic peat. This will make the soil structure looser, which will prevent moisture from stagnating at the root system and allow the root crop to grow unhindered, increasing its volume.

Nutrient elements

If you want to grow beautiful, dense, even beets, then pay attention not only to the structure of the soil, but also to its saturation with the necessary substances. It must contain all the elements necessary for plant nutrition: potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

A deficiency of these minerals will negatively affect crop yields. Mineral fertilizers can be replaced with wood ash (three cups per square), adding it to compost or humus.

The lack of nitrogen is compensated for by a urea solution. To avoid nitrate accumulation, use a chlorine form of potassium fertilizer. If the core of the root crop begins to rot, add fertilizer with boron. Molybdenum and copper are also needed.

Microelements will be better absorbed when the tops are sprayed with a nutrient solution, or you can keep beet seeds in it before sowing.

Rules and types of fertilizing

Fertilizers, both mineral and organic, can be applied in two ways - at the root and by spraying.

Root

Beets receive most of their nutrition from the soil, so root feeding is the basis for obtaining a good harvest. Root crops should grow not only moderately large, but also tasty, and root feeding helps achieve this.

Features of root dressings:

During the growing season, at least two feedings are carried out - when thinning the seedlings and before the tops close.
Fertilizers are applied in the form of nutrient solutions. They are poured into specially made furrows 3-4 cm deep. Furrows are made between the rows. The distance from the furrows to the roots is 5-10 cm.
After adding nutrient solutions, the beds are watered - this helps prevent burns of the root system.
It is prohibited to introduce fresh manure or droppings under the beets. They are added only to poor soils, a year before sowing beets.

Foliar

Foliar feeding involves spraying plants and the soil around them. This treatment is carried out as an addition to root feeding - if it is urgently necessary to compensate for the deficiency of one or another element.

Features of foliar feeding:

are absorbed faster and more completely than root fertilizers;
can be carried out during any growing season;
uniform distribution with minimal risks of overdose.

For spraying the following solutions are used:

Urea. For a bucket of water - 20 g of granular fertilizer.
Manganese. Use a slightly pink solution. During the season, plants are sprayed 5 times. This treatment allows not only to replenish the manganese deficiency, but also to prevent the beets from being damaged by putrefactive infections.

For foliar feeding, solutions of boric acid and table salt are also used.

How to feed beets with chicken droppings

After the formation of 2-3 leaves, it becomes necessary to apply organic fertilizers. For this purpose, use a solution of mullein, rabbit feces or rotted chicken droppings.

For this purpose, 2 parts of selected organic fertilizers are diluted with 8 parts of water, infused for 2 hours, filtered so that organic particles do not burn the roots and leaves of the plant, and water the bed. After this, the beets need to be watered with clean water and mulched. This fertilizing is carried out only once during the growing season of the crop.

Beet feeding scheme

When growing beets, it is extremely important to apply fertilizers at certain stages, and at each of them they use fertilizers of different compositions.

Beets are fed:

at certain stages of the growing season;
depending on the condition of the plants;
during agricultural activities.

Fertilizers for beets are applied at the following stages:

Preparing the soil for planting. The plot for beets is prepared in autumn and spring. Features of preparing a site for beets:
Dolomite flour or crushed shells are added in the fall - 2-3 cups per 1 square meter. m.
In spring, wood ash is added to the soil - 500 g per 1 square meter. m.
Sandy soils and sandy loams are fertilized twice - in autumn and spring. For chernozems, fertilizing in the fall is sufficient.
In heavy soils, an increased dose of potassium is introduced, as well as sawdust, sand and lime.
When sowing. During this period, fertilizers are applied if they have not been added previously. Fertilizer is sprinkled directly into the furrows. For each square meter put 10 g of nitrate, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
During cultivation. Fertilizers are applied according to schedules that are based on calendar dates and growing seasons. Approximate feeding scheme:
The second feeding is done after 3 weeks. Apply fertilizer of the same composition as the first time.
The third is carried out after another 2-3 weeks. Its composition is already slightly different from the previous ones. Take double superphosphate and potassium sulfate - 40 g per bucket. The prepared solution is poured over 10 square meters. m. The beds are watered with this composition to enhance the growth of root crops.
When growing late varieties of beets, another feeding is often carried out. It must be done 3-4 weeks before harvesting.

Industrial products

Agrochemicals can consist of a single nutrient or be multicomponent.

Nitrogen fertilizers

The following nitrogen-containing products are most popular among gardeners.

Ammonium nitrate

It is a gray-white granule. The preparation contains 26-34.4% nitrogen. In addition, ammonium nitrate contains from 3 to 14% sulfur. For root feeding of beets, prepare a solution of the following concentration:

2 tablespoons of the substance;
10 liters of water.

For foliar feeding, the concentration of the solution is halved.

Ammonium sulfate

The granular substance contains up to 21% nitrogen, 24% sulfur. The addition of ammonium sulfate in summer cools the soil and increases its acidity. It is not washed away by heavy rains. The solution is prepared as follows:

30 grams of the drug;
dissolve in a bucket of water.

Ammonium sulfate granules (50-70 grams per 1 m²) can be added to the garden bed in the fall when digging.

Urea (urea)

The substance contains up to 46% nitrogen. Urea helps plants resist adverse weather conditions and increases productivity. To feed beets, 20 grams of urea granules are dissolved in a bucket of water.

Phosphorus fertilizers

Used in the fall when preparing beds, as well as during the formation of root crops.

Superphosphate

Contains up to 22% phosphorus. The granules are poured with hot water, since they do not dissolve well in cold water. The solution is prepared at the rate of 50 grams of superphosphate per bucket of liquid.

Double superphosphate

The preparation contains up to 45% phosphorus. Therefore, 20-25 grams of granules per 10 liters of hot water are used for feeding.

Potash fertilizers

In addition to phosphorus, during the period of fruit formation, beets need potassium supplementation. The following industrial preparations are used.

Potassium chloride

It is granules of white, pink, gray or brown color. From 20 to 40 grams of potassium chloride are used per 1 m² of land. The element is applied in dry form in the fall for digging, or in the form of a solution in spring and summer.

Potassium sulfate (potassium sulfate)

The substance is applied when digging the beds in the fall or spring. It can also be used during the formation of root crops. To do this, 35-40 grams of potassium sulfate are diluted in a bucket of water.

Complex fertilizers

The chemical industry offers ready-made preparations that contain nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and other micro- and macroelements:

Agricola-aqua Vegeta for vegetable crops. This is a liquid fertilizer, the use of which will increase beet yields by 20-30%. For root feeding, 100 milliliters of the substance are dissolved in a bucket of water. To treat leaves, the dosage is halved.
Kemira-Lux . The drug is presented in the form of powder or granules. To feed, a tablespoon of fertilizer (20 grams) is dissolved in a bucket of water.
Vegetable aquarin . The drug is used for root and foliar feeding. In the first case, they spend 10-25 grams per 10 liters of water. To spray on a leaf, take 10-15 grams of the substance.

Potassium fertilizers containing chlorine help reduce nitrates in root crops.

Feeding beets by month

Beets are fed taking into account the growing season. For many gardeners who grow beets in open ground, it is more convenient to navigate by the calendar.

In June

In June, ground beets are at the initial stage of the growing season, when they need nutrition for the growth of green mass and root development.

How to feed beets in June:

As soon as the second leaf appears on the plant, the beds are watered with mullein diluted in water 1:10. Fertilizer is poured into the furrows between the rows.
After 2 weeks, the beds are watered with ammonia diluted with water - 1 tbsp. l. for 10 l. Adding an ammonia solution helps repel pests and increases plant immunity.

In July

In mid-summer, beets form a rosette. The fertilizing applied during this period should promote the formation and filling of root crops. For this purpose, the culture is given potassium.

How to feed beets in July:

Potassium nitrate. Dilute 2 tbsp in 8 liters of water. l. drug.
Table salt. Dilute 2 tbsp. l. in a bucket of water.

In August

At the end of summer, the development of root crops is completed, they begin to intensively accumulate useful elements and acquire a certain taste. In August, beets are fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

What fertilizers to apply in August:

A solution of mineral fertilizers. Superphosphate (2 tbsp) and potassium chloride (1.5-2 tbsp) are diluted in 10 liters of water. Fertilizer must be applied 4 weeks before harvesting.
Instead of a mineral “cocktail”, many gardeners add more harmless products - for example, wood ash or yeast solution.

Folk remedies

Gardeners can replace industrial preparations with fertilizers made independently. In some cases, folk remedies are as effective as chemicals.

Herbal infusion

Use any freshly cut grass. The barrel is filled 2/3 with raw materials, filled with water, and covered with a lid. The infusion is stirred every day to avoid mold. After about 3-4 days it is ready to use.

The herbal infusion contains nitrogen necessary for plant growth. To prevent the roots from being burned by the concentrated solution, it is diluted. A liter of infusion is mixed with 10 liters of water.

Wood ash

Ash powder contains potassium, phosphorus, as well as microelements: magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium. The substance is scattered between the rows. You can also prepare an ash solution. To do this you will need:

2 cups of ash;
a bucket of water.

The components are mixed and left for 2-3 hours. Then the solution is filtered and used for root feeding of beets.

Infusion of mullein, bird droppings

In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the infusion contains microelements necessary for the culture. To prepare, take 1 part mullein or bird droppings and 5 parts water.

The components are mixed, covered with a lid, and placed in a warm place for fermentation. When the solution becomes lighter in color, it is ready for use. To feed beets, 1 liter of organic infusion is mixed with 10 liters of water.

Ammonia

The substance is a source of nitrogen necessary for crop growth. For feeding, prepare a solution of the following composition:

2 tablespoons of ammonia;
10 liters of water.

The emulsion is used at the beginning of the beet growing season.

A solution of ammonia spilled to a depth of 20-25 centimeters will help get rid of cockchafer larvae.

Boric acid

The use of the drug helps to increase beet yield. Fertilizing can be applied foliar. To do this, 1 teaspoon of boric acid is diluted in 10 liters of water. A spray bottle is used for spraying.

Yeast

The fungi contained in the yeast solution contribute to the formation of beneficial soil microflora. Plants' metabolism accelerates and root growth accelerates. The emulsion is prepared as follows:

package of dry yeast;
2 tablespoons sugar;
stir in a bucket of warm water.

You can add 200 grams of ash to the prepared yeast solution. After this, the concentration of nutrients in the infusion will be greater. To feed, take 1 liter of solution and mix it with 5 liters of water.

Iodine

The product helps plants cope with adverse weather conditions and prevents the appearance of pathogenic microorganisms in root crops. To prepare the solution, take:

40 milliliters of iodine;
10 liters of water.

The emulsion is added during the formation of the root crop.

Salt

The saline solution is prepared as follows:

1 tablespoon of non-iodized salt;
dissolve in a bucket of warm water.

Fertilizing helps to increase the sugar content of beets.

The suspension is distributed over 1 m² of bed. Water the beets with saline solution after the appearance of the 6th leaf, when the root crop rises 3 centimeters above the soil surface. After 2 weeks, the culture can be fed again.

Advice from experienced gardeners

Farmers and experienced gardeners with experience in growing delicious beets advise:

During the top growth stage, apply only nitrogen fertilizers.
Carefully monitor the condition of the leaves and apply fertilizer according to the needs of the plants.
Apply fertilizing after watering.
Give preference to organic fertilizers.
Don’t limit yourself to root fertilizers alone, use foliar fertilizers too - spray the plants with nutrient solutions.

An experienced gardener will also tell you about feeding beets in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9hMOnAnvb8

When growing tasty and sweet beets, fertilizing is crucial. With proper and timely application of fertilizers, you can get root crops that correspond to their varietal size and taste characteristics.

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Common mistakes

However, a novice summer resident is not immune from mistakes:

Nitrogen fertilizers make the tops grow well, but the root crop turns out small and not entirely sweet.
Fertilizing takes place on dry soil. To prevent damage to your beets, be sure to water the beds with clean water before feeding them.
The beds are not loosened. To maximize the effect of the applied preparations, be sure to loosen the soil. This promotes better air aeration.
Excess fertilizer. There is no need to try to feed the plant. Excess nutrients are also harmful. Moreover, this applies to both organic fertilizers and mineral preparations. Only compliance with the frequency of fertilization will allow the beets to grow large and be sweet.