How to properly water beets with salt water: recommendations for making fertilizer

Beetroot is a vegetable that was first grown on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea. In areas along the coast, the wind has been mixing the soil with salt crystals for centuries, and over time, the presence of this component has become an essential condition for the proper growth and maturation of the root crop. This is why beets love to be fertilized with saline solution. Experienced gardeners also confirm that periodic watering with saline solution has a positive effect on growth and increases the sugar content of the root crop.

Why do you need to water beets with salt water?

To get a good harvest, root crops need to be fed with special compounds throughout the entire growth period. Most often, water in which minerals are dissolved is used as a fertilizer, since they saturate plants with essential microelements. A crop such as beets has a special need for sodium during development and growth. Most often, a deficiency of this element is observed in dense soils in central Russia. That is why in such areas, growing beets does not produce the best yields.

To increase yield and improve the taste of root crops, experts advise periodically fertilizing with saline solution. Despite its availability and budget, this fertilizer is superior in efficiency even to modern industrial additives. Also, its advantage is the absence of harmful chemicals in its composition.

A lack of sodium can be identified by the appearance of the plant - if there is a lack of a component, thin red veins appear on the leaves.

Useful tips

To make fertilizing as effective as possible, it is recommended to follow these tips:

Use regular rock salt, without added iodine.
In addition to salt fertilizing, it is recommended to fertilize beets with other mineral additives.
Alternate the application of mineral supplements and salt fertilizers, maintaining an interval of 2 weeks between them.
Do not forget to water the soil with clean water to avoid drying out, which will lead to poor absorption of nutrients.
Change the area for growing beets every year so as not to spoil the composition of the soil.
Next year, plant carrots in place of the beets - they can neutralize the salt remaining in the soil.

Did you know? Beetroot is a very ancient vegetable.
It is known that it was eaten as early as the 2nd millennium BC.
e., while only leaves were considered edible, and root crops began to be eaten only after the plant had been cultivated. Thus, regular salt fertilizing for beets is very useful, so they are included in the fertilizing schedule if there is a lack of sodium in the soil. To get the maximum effect from the saline solution, you must follow the recommendations for preparing the product and its use.

Advantages and disadvantages of watering with salt

If you water beets with salt water according to a certain scheme, such fertilizing will be no worse than using expensive mineral fertilizers. The advantage of the solution is that such a solution helps to quickly compensate for the deficiency of microelements that are necessary for the successful development of root crops.

In addition to being cheap, watering with saline solution has another advantage - homemade fertilizer does not cause side effects and is suitable for families with small children. Salt does not contain toxins, so root vegetables treated with it are considered environmentally friendly and safe. The saline solution not only has a positive effect on taste, but also protects plants from attacks by harmful insects and minimizes the risk of developing diseases.

Despite all the advantages, this method of feeding also has certain disadvantages. Experts warn that beets should be watered with salt sparingly, without exceeding the standard dosage. If you oversaturate the soil with sodium, you will not be able to grow a good crop. It is important to remember that an excess of a component is as harmful as its lack.

How to properly water beets with salt

They are fed with salt water to make the root crop sweet and to protect it from rodents and the scorching sun. Depending on the purpose, the processing method is chosen:

When the tops wither in the open ground, only the beet leaves are sprayed with the resulting solution. Particular attention is paid to the back side of the sheet plate.
To protect against rodents, spray with a concentrated mixture. Make sure that the composition is evenly distributed over the surface. If other plants grow near the beets, first cover them with film to avoid damage.
To improve the taste, water the roots with salt water. But the soil must first be moistened with clean water, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the root crop. Also cover all other crops nearby with film.

Instructions for the procedure and its frequency

Beets are a crop that really values timely watering. In order for the harvest to be good, the gardener must ensure that watering is carried out in a timely manner. It is recommended to check its regularity with weather conditions. Experts advise watering the soil with settled water (for at least 2 days).

If the gardener decides to fertilize the crop with salt fertilizer, it is recommended to remember and adhere to the following rules:

Before feeding plants, you need to determine whether they need fertilizer. If the beet leaves are large and have a rich green color without a reddish tint, there is no need for fertilizer. It is important to remember that an excess of sodium is no less harmful to plants than a deficiency;
in order not to harm the plants, when preparing the solution, you must strictly adhere to the dosage;
you need to water the beets carefully, making sure that the saline solution does not get on nearby plantings, since such fertilizing can be destructive for them;
It is recommended to carry out the treatment in an appropriate suit, since contact with the skin and mucous membranes of salt can cause irritation;
If there is an excessive salt concentration, there is a risk of burning the plant roots. To avoid this, before treating the beets with a saline solution, it is recommended to water them with a small amount of settled water;
it is recommended to carry out the procedure in calm weather, which will prevent premature drying of the soil;
Experts do not advise watering the soil with a solution of table salt in rainy weather, since rain will reduce the effect of the fertilizer.

The first watering is usually carried out when 5-7 young leaves appear on the plant. The optimal number of such feedings is 3 per season. It is worth remembering that the beets need to be processed for the last time about a month before harvesting the root crops from the garden.

You can feed beets with salt not only by watering, but also by spraying the tops. This method not only promotes saturation with micronutrients, but also protects plants from pests.

Basic rules of watering

Watering with saline solution in open ground has a number of nuances that must be taken into account:

Fertilizer is used only if it is necessary to increase the amount of sodium in the soil. To determine whether beets need salt, carefully monitor the condition of the tops: as soon as they begin to acquire a red tint, this is a sign to use sodium fertilizers.
It is necessary to use only a correctly prepared solution and in the prescribed quantity , since feeding “by eye” can be harmful.
It is necessary to take into account the specific placement of beets on the site and the proximity to other plants in order to choose the appropriate spraying method and not harm them during the processing process.
Watering should be carried out in protective clothing: despite the non-toxicity of the product, it can irritate the mucous membranes, which causes discomfort.
It is better to carry out the treatment after preliminary watering the plants with clean water, so as not to burn the delicate leaves. Depending on the type of salt (extra, rock), its quantity for preparing the solution may vary.
Plants are watered on calm , dry days to maintain the effectiveness of fertilizing.
If it rains after watering, the sodium fertilizing should be repeated (only in case of spraying the tops, not necessary when watering)

Find out more about how to properly water beets in open ground.

Preparation of the solution

The main ingredient for preparing such a solution is ordinary table salt. The concentration of the component is determined by the state of the tops. If the sodium deficiency is slight, 10 liters of water with a teaspoon of salt dissolved are used to water a square meter of soil. If the leaves are covered with a large number of red veins, this indicates a severe lack of sodium. In this case, in 10 liters of water you need to dissolve not 1 teaspoon of the component, but 2. If the main task of the gardener is to protect the plants from insect attacks, use a solution in which 5 grams of salt is taken per liter of water. Increasing the dosage of sodium chloride is strictly prohibited, since treatment with a concentrated composition can cause the death of the plant. You need to prepare the fertilizer very carefully, making sure that there are no undissolved crystals in the liquid.

When preparing fertilizing, it is recommended to adhere to the following algorithm:

To begin, take the required amount of salt and add 5-7 tablespoons of water.
Next, you need to heat the composition, which will help dissolve the salt crystals.
Now you need to pour the prepared concentrate into the water, mix everything well and let it brew for 10 minutes.

Further watering is carried out in the standard way, using a watering can or from a bucket. If the solution is used to protect against pests, it is recommended to spray using a spray bottle.

For the best effect, it is recommended to pour sodium chloride solution into the grooves, which are made at a distance of 8-10 cm from the root system. This method will help prevent burns and injury to the roots. It is important to remember that the plant must first be watered with plain water.

The most common mistakes when using saline solution

Gardeners often complain that using a saline solution does not bring any results. It often happens that the use of such watering in open ground gives a completely opposite effect - it reduces the yield and worsens the taste of the root crop. According to experienced agricultural technicians, this happens for the following reasons:

excessive flooding of the soil in the garden (this applies not only to saline solution, but also to ordinary water);
too frequent feeding;
non-compliance with the dosage, increasing the permissible concentration of sodium chloride;
use for preparing a salt solution with the addition of fluorine or iodine.

Also, the opposite reaction can occur if such fertilizing is applied to soil that contains a sufficient amount of sodium. An excess of this component negatively affects the condition of the earth. The soil becomes too dense and depleted. Plantings on it grow slowly and remain dry even after abundant watering. This is due to the fact that an increased concentration of the component prevents the penetration of liquid to the roots of plants. It is important to consider that initially sodium and chlorine are aggressive components that, when in excess, draw out and displace other useful substances from the soil, such as phosphorus and potassium .

If the soil is initially oversaturated with potassium chloride, it can be softened by adding organic fertilizers such as midges, ash, and rotted sawdust in the fall.

Why water beets with salt?

For normal development, each plant requires additional nutrients, which are added to the soil at different periods of growth. Beets are no exception and also require the use of fertilizers.

The plant needs a lot of sodium, especially when growing in heavy, dense soils. To compensate for the lack of this microelement, expensive mineral fertilizers are often purchased, used in the form of aqueous solutions for irrigation.

Important! Such fertilizing has a positive effect only on beets; other plants may die from salt.

To save a lot of money, gardeners came up with the idea of watering this root crop with saline solution. Therefore, we will consider in more detail why beets need such fertilizing and whether its use is effective.

Since salt is a direct source of sodium, such fertilizers become an excellent alternative to expensive mineral fertilizers, and they also have a good effect.

Thanks to the addition of a saline solution, the soil is enriched with sodium, which is necessary to protect the tops from withering and dryness, improve growth and improve taste (for sweetness).

In addition, watering with this product helps protect plantings from rodent attacks.

General recommendations for watering

In order to have fresh and canned beets on the table all year round, which can be used to prepare all kinds of salads and beet soups, fertilizing must be combined with the correct watering regime. Experts advise adhering to the following rules:

until the first shoots appear, the soil in the seedlings must remain moist at all times;
young plantings are watered as the top layer of soil dries out (about 1-1.5 cm);
the first fertilizing with a solution of rock salt is carried out when a rosette of 5-7 leaves appears;
It is important to remember that as the root crop develops and grows, it only accumulates useful microelements and moisture, and absorption occurs at a depth of about 15 cm. That is why the soil should be soaked to approximately this depth;
when the root crop reaches 6-7 cm in diameter, it is recommended to feed it with other fertilizers. Beets love to be fed with wood ash. To prepare a suitable fertilizer, you need to mix 400 g of ash with a liter of water and mix everything thoroughly. The product is left to infuse for 2 days, after which it is mixed with 10 liters of water and watering begins. As an alternative, you can water the plant with a solution of boric acid (10 g per 10 liters of water).

In hot weather with insufficient precipitation, it is recommended to water beets every 3-5 days, which will help maintain optimal soil moisture. If, with this care, the beet leaves turn red, it is recommended to re-treat the crop with saline solution.

Processing times

To get the maximum effect from the treatment, watering or spraying is best done in the evening, when the sun's rays are more gentle. The first treatment can be done when 6-7 leaves have appeared on the plant.

The second treatment should be carried out during the period of active formation of the root crop. The last treatment is carried out 30 days before harvest.

Did you know? Young beets, the diameter of whose roots do not exceed 5 cm, can be eaten together with the tops
- at this time they are very tender and tasty. Often these greens are used for vitamin salads.

What can cause a root vegetable to grow unsweetened?

Beginner gardeners often encounter the fact that beets grow not only small, but also tasteless. Several factors can provoke this:

use of low-quality planting material. When purchasing seeds, be sure to pay attention to the plant variety and production date. If you are growing a crop for the first time, you can purchase several different varieties at once, so that you can then decide on the most suitable one. The seeds themselves should only be purchased from trusted sellers;
the seeds were taken from low-quality root crops;
growing beets on unsuitable soil. Despite the fact that this vegetable is considered one of the most unpretentious, it still requires certain conditions. Swampy and waterlogged soil is absolutely not suitable for this culture. Also, the vegetable will not grow well in soil with high acidity;
uneven watering. To avoid the formation of crusts or drying out of the soil, it is recommended to mulch. Covering the ground with mulch helps protect it from weeds and also improves properties. To mulch beds, straw, conifer bark, fallen leaves or mowed grass are most often used.

Precautions and technology for watering beets with salt

Before watering in open ground, check the condition of the soil. First, the soil is well moistened, and then treated with saline solution.

Other plants are first covered with polyethylene so as not to spoil the harvest. If you prepare the composition without observing the proportions, there is a risk of harming the plant. The root vegetable will taste bitter.

ATTENTION! To prepare the mixture, use rock salt, which does not contain iodine.

When feeding, the processing technology is also taken into account:

The soil must be loosened before fertilizing.
Mulching is also carried out after watering with saline solution. This will allow moisture to penetrate deeper into the soil.
If the water is hard, then soften it with wood ash in the proportion: 60 g per 20 liters of liquid.
If, in addition to salt, other mineral supplements are used, then the interval between feedings should be 14 days.
To prevent the soil from becoming depleted, beets are planted in a new place every season.

Why is it necessary to irrigate beets with salt water?

Beets are valued not only for their beneficial characteristics, but also for their taste. Its pulp is juicy and sweet. To grow a sugar root crop, it is not enough to use appropriate varieties that are characterized by a high sucrose content; it is necessary to provide the root crops with proper care.

A watering regime is organized for the plants, planting density is maintained, and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is introduced.

One of these fertilizers is table salt, which cooks use for cooking and canning. Why is salt used to increase sugar in beet pulp? How to introduce fertilizing?

Why are beets fertilized with salt?

Fertilizing beets using a unique saline solution is in great demand, since this method is not only simple, but also the most effective. The root crop is grown everywhere, but you can encounter various troubles. Pests and drought are the main reasons why you need to carefully monitor your crops. The salty solution improves not only the growth, but also the taste of beets. This is what makes this method so popular. The main rule to remember is that when watering with a salt solution, it is important not to touch the plant, but to water only the soil around it.

Watering with regular water will not saturate the soil with the necessary microelements. This crop is very sodium hungry, and using a saline solution is the best fertilization method. The main advantages include:

fast growth;
increase in sugar content;
protection from drought and pests.

Do not overuse the solution, otherwise the beets may begin to dry out and die.

Answers to frequently asked questions

Gardeners most often ask:

Why is salt used to fertilize beets in open ground?

The salt composition helps to grow a sweet crop of root vegetables.

What are the benefits of watering?

Using salt water, they replenish the lack of sodium in the soil.

How to make your own fertilizer?

The main thing is to observe the proportions correctly: for 10 liters of water – 1 tbsp. spoon of salt.

How to water?

It is advisable to irrigate at the roots, after covering neighboring crops with polyethylene. If beet tops are treated, they are sprayed on top.

How to dilute, in what proportions

In addition to using salt to feed the plant, this solution also serves as an excellent treatment for pests. Of course, the proportions and processing methods for different types of use also differ radically.

How to use salt solutions correctly:

It may also be useful for you to learn about what are the best varieties of beets for the Moscow region planted for open ground.

In the video, watering beets with salt:

Don't get too carried away with salt supplements. The real need for this is if the plant does not receive the required amount of sodium from the soil. That is why it is advisable to do a soil analysis and measure its acidity level before planting any crop.