When to remove beets from the garden for storage in 2022 according to the lunar calendar

Root crops are grown in every dacha and personal plot. These vegetables are completely unpretentious, do not require special care, and grow, one might say, on their own. However, there are some nuances in when to harvest beets and carrots (this is usually done simultaneously) for the purpose of storing them for long-term winter storage.

The vegetable harvest needs to be harvested at the moment when it reaches its highest ripeness, because everyone knows that it is in the last weeks of development that root crops accumulate the main sugars. Their taste, as well as their keeping quality, largely depend on the timeliness of digging.

When do beets usually ripen?

The exact harvest date depends on the planting date and the selected variety. For example, early-ripening varieties ripen 2 - 2.5 months after planting, and late-ripening varieties only 5 months later.

Typically, this vegetable crop, depending on the growing region, is planted in May - June. This means that by the end of August - September, the beets usually ripen and can be removed from the garden for storage.

IMPORTANT!
In the northern regions, it is recommended to complete the excavation by the end of September. In warmer areas of Russia, it is permissible to harvest during October if the weather forecast is favorable.

Beet harvesting in the Urals

The Urals are characterized by the onset of frosts even in warm summer seasons. In such conditions, beets often die in the soil before they have time to ripen. In this regard, Ural summer residents practically do not use early ripening beets, which in most cases are doomed to death. To ensure greater preservation of root crops, it is recommended to grow seedlings in greenhouses for later use.

In cold winter conditions, it is recommended to grow beets in greenhouses

Most often, seedlings are buried in the soil in early May, after which the beets are given time until the end of August to ripen. When planting seeds or seedlings in June, the harvest is harvested in mid-October, but such a late harvest time can also lead to hypothermia of the fruit.

How to tell when beets are ready to harvest

However, it is best to determine that beets can be removed from the garden based on the condition of the crop itself.

Ripe beets, ready for digging, have a root diameter that corresponds to what is stated on the package. On average it is 5-10 cm, but for large-fruited varieties it is about 15 cm.

Next, pay attention to the foliage. It becomes wilted and yellowish.

If both signs agree, they dig a couple of test specimens. The central root becomes thinner and turns into a “rat tail”. And small growths appear on the root vegetables themselves.

ON A NOTE.
In addition, when cut, the flesh is dark burgundy, rich and juicy.

When can you start harvesting beets?

Since beets do not tolerate frost, they are harvested in the second half of September. The fact is that this vegetable protrudes slightly above the soil surface and is therefore more sensitive to temperature changes. However, in warmer regions, the collection time may be delayed until mid-October, since the most important thing is to be in time before the temperature begins to drop to negative values at night.

It is important to have time to harvest beets before the onset of cold weather.

At the same time, it is important to keep the beets in the ground at low (2-3 degrees above zero) temperatures - this way the root vegetables will acquire their characteristic sweetness and quickly accumulate the necessary vitamins. The later the variety you plant, the sweeter it will end up.

Signs of maturation

Since it is hardly possible to predict early autumn temperature changes in advance, it is recommended to focus on the external criteria of the root crop. Signs indicating that beets are ripe include the following:

The beet tops acquire a yellow tint (especially the lower leaves) and wither. The symptom cannot be called universal - if the summer is dry, the leaves may turn yellow too early;

Yellowing of beet tops is sometimes associated not so much with the maturity of the vegetable, but with the climate

The appearance of growths on the vegetable indicates that it is beginning to sprout - this is a sure signal that the beets are ready. The appearance of light roots indicates the proximity of unwanted secondary germination. Further overexposure may cause the root crop to take root;
The dimensions and weight of beets correspond to the average characteristics of a vegetable of this breed. On average, beets reach ten centimeters in diameter, but there is no single criterion. Early-ripening varieties are usually smaller than mid- and late-ripening varieties.

The harvested beets must meet the standards of their variety in size and weight.

Of course, while the root crop is in the ground, it is difficult to determine its size. In order to find out the condition of the entire crop, it is not necessary to dig up all the vegetables, since if you make a mistake, all that remains is to dispose of them. To avoid such costs, you should dig up one beet and analyze its appearance. If it suits you and meets your expectations, you can begin digging up the remaining root crops.

In order to determine the degree of maturity of the crop, it is enough to test one root crop

Weather

Each region has its own seasonal characteristics. It is not possible to review all possible scenarios; let’s consider the most common ones:

Warm sunny autumn. Sometimes Indian summer can last all of September and even cover part of October, but you shouldn't be tempted by good weather. If you overcook beets, even if the correct temperatures are maintained, you risk getting a fibrous and astringent vegetable;

Even if temperatures remain warm in the fall, beets must be harvested on time

Autumn with a lot of precipitation. On a reasonable scale, rain provides an invaluable service and irrigates the soil, making it more susceptible to harvesting. However, an excess of moisture leads not only to a change in the taste of the final product, but also to rotting of the beets even before they are removed from the ground;

Dry autumn. If dryness is combined with moderately warm temperatures, then this option is the best. With a successful combination of circumstances, the beets can be kept in the ground longer, postponing their movement to the cellar. Of course, a long absence of rain can dry out the soil, so it is advisable if it rains the day before harvesting root crops.

Irrigating the garden with rain the day before harvest will benefit the beets

Beet prices

Beet

When to harvest beets for storage in 2022 according to the lunar calendar

Traditionally, many summer residents carry out agricultural work according to the lunar calendar. It is recommended to dig beets, like other root plants, during the waning moon. Let's look at how suitable days for cleaning are distributed in the fall of 2022.

September

In the first month of autumn there will be 2 periods of the waning moon: from the 1st to the 6th and from the 22nd to the 30th. Provided the weather is favorable, you can harvest on any of these days.

October

In October, the moon dies from the 1st to the 5th and from the 21st to the 31st.

November

In November, beets are harvested mainly in the southern regions of Russia. This month, the moon is in a waning phase from the 1st to the 4th and from the 20th to the 30th. But it is still better to dig in early November, since at the end of the month, even in the south of Russia, the temperature is too low for harvesting.

What determines the collection time?

There is no exact date when you can start harvesting table beets. The optimal time for harvesting root crops depends on the beet variety, the region where it is grown, and weather conditions. Many summer residents take into account the recommendations of the Lunar calendar, which will also help determine the appropriate timing for harvesting beets.

Beet varieties

All varieties of table beets are divided into early, medium and late ripening. The timing of the harvest depends on what type of crop is planted in the beds. It is undesirable to dig up root crops before the end of the growing season, since it is at the last stage of development that beets accumulate a maximum of nutrients and useful elements.

Harvest time depending on variety:

Early - for full ripening, these types of beets require no more than 55-85 days. Typically, fast-growing varieties are sown in May or the first half of June. In this case, ripe root vegetables can be harvested from mid-July to the end of August.
Medium - are among the most popular and widespread types of beets among Russian summer residents. Average ripening time is from 80 to 110 days. Mid-season beets ripen in the second half of August or the first days of September.
Late-ripening - it takes 120-145 days for root crops to fully ripen. These varieties of beets are also very popular among vegetable growers due to their excellent taste and good keeping quality of root crops.

These dates for harvesting the beet harvest are approximate; the time for full ripening of root crops depends on the specific growing region and weather conditions.

Regions

When determining the appropriate time to harvest beets, you need to take into account the climatic characteristics of the region in which they are grown.

Central Russia - beets fully ripen and are harvested from the end of August to the end of September or the first ten days of October.
Moscow region and Leningrad region - root crops need to be dug from the first days of September until the end of the month. Harvesting work must be completed before the end of October, otherwise the root crops may freeze.
Siberia and the Urals - in these regions it is advisable to choose early and mid-season beet varieties, since late types simply do not have time to ripen before frost. In the case of sowing beets in May, the harvest is harvested at the end of August; when planting in June, these dates are moved to September.
In the Krasnodar Territory, Kuban and the southern regions of the country, beets are most often harvested twice - in July for food consumption and in October for storage for the winter.

Weather

Beetroot is a vegetable crop that is one of the last to be dug up. It tolerates drops in air temperature well and continues to actively grow, ripen and accumulate useful substances.

It should be taken into account that beets cannot tolerate frost - in cold and wet soil, the root crops begin to rot and cannot be stored for a long time. Therefore, the crop must be harvested before the first frost.

In case of warm and dry weather, you should not delay harvesting beets either. Root vegetables will not become larger or tastier because their growing season has ended. But the autumn weather can change any day and the beets will quickly freeze. Therefore, it is best to immediately harvest the beets after making sure they are ripe.

Moon calendar

Many vegetable growers believe that when harvesting table beets, they need to take into account the phases of the moon, which help to choose the optimal timing. Astrologers believe that it is best to harvest any root crops on the Waning Moon or New Moon.

Suitable dates for harvesting beets in 2022:

July - 23-28;
August – 1-3, 19-24, 26-31;
September – 1, 18-24, 26-30;
October – 1, 2, 16-22, 25-31.

Astrologers also recommend storing the harvest at a time when the Moon is in earth, air or fire signs - it will be stored for a long time. It is not advisable to move beets to a cellar or basement while the Moon is in water signs, as they will very quickly begin to rot and turn black.

Timing for digging beets depending on the region

In many ways, the time to dig up beets depends on the climatic conditions of the growing region. In warmer regions, harvesting is carried out later, in the northern regions it is necessary to do it before the first frost.

South

The southern regions of Russia are most suitable for growing beets. Here you can dig root crops until the beginning of November, but the bulk of the harvest is harvested in the first two autumn months.

Middle lane

In Central Russia they try to harvest the crop in September and the first ten days of October, but now autumn can be warm, so in other years beets can be dug even in the 20th of October.

ON A NOTE.
Previously, they tried to finish digging before Intercession (October 14).

Ural, Siberia

In the most severe regions, it is recommended to finish harvesting the beet harvest in the last ten days of September in order to prevent a situation where the first frosts kill the root crops still in the garden.

Beet harvesting in Siberia

Siberia is not a region suitable for growing vegetables. However, if you have the necessary knowledge and certain equipment, you can safely engage in vegetable growing on its territory. For growing in Siberia, the optimal solution would be to choose mid-season varieties. In conditions of cool spring and the same summer, early-ripening beets may turn out to be under-ripe, and the risk of late-ripening beets being frozen is too great.

Growing beets using seedlings is the most effective way in Siberian conditions

In the harsh Siberian climate, the use of seedlings will be more profitable than the use of seeds. Seedlings provide a greater likelihood of obtaining a rich harvest and further survival of vegetables in cellar conditions.

How to dig beets correctly?

When harvesting beets from the garden, it is important to carry out the procedure correctly so as not to damage the root crop. For cleaning, you will need a small shovel or plank to dig up the beds. Some gardeners use an ordinary shovel, garden fork or knife.

There is no difference, the main thing is to dig carefully so as not to damage the vegetable.

If you have light, loose soil in your garden, then you probably won’t have to dig; just pull the tops. But most often the soil will be compacted from rain and a long gardening season. Therefore, the beets are dug up from all sides, and then pulled out of the soil. Next, carefully brush off the stuck soil and lay out the crop to dry.

ON A NOTE.
Some are left to dry in the garden bed, but it is better to put the vegetables under a shelter so that they are not soaked by accidental rain.

What to do after harvesting beets: preparation for storage

After harvesting the beets and before storing them, you need to dry the crop . To do this, spread the vegetables in one layer outside and leave them in the garden for about three to four hours (the weather must be dry and sunny!). If the weather is damp, then drying should be done at least under a canopy or in a dry room.

Note! You cannot dry root vegetables for too long; 3-4 hours is enough, otherwise they will quickly begin to lose moisture and wither.
If it so happened that you harvested the crop in rainy weather from wet soil, then it needs to be dried well in a ventilated room, spread out in one layer; two days will be enough.

After harvesting the beets, you need to prepare them for winter storage:

First of all, you need to clean the soil from the vegetables as carefully as possible. This can be done with your hands or using the dull back of a knife, but you need to handle it carefully so as not to damage the surface of the root vegetables. Cleaning can also be done with your hands wearing cloth gloves.

Important! When cleaning dirt, do not hit fruits against each other or other surfaces, or handle them with sharp objects, because the slightest damage will become a gateway for pathogens and harmful microorganisms.

Then you need to cut off the tops , leaving 0.5-1 centimeter of tops. It is not recommended to simply twist it by hand!
Using a sharp, disinfected knife, you need to eliminate all growth points , cut up to five millimeters directly to the root crop, this is done so that during storage the vegetable does not grow small sprouts from the remaining buds, otherwise it will direct forces to these processes, reducing the shelf life. Although some gardeners do not perform the manipulation of eliminating sprout points!
The main root (tail) can be cut off, leaving a small tail measuring five to seven centimeters. If it is initially small in size, then it is better not to touch it at all.
You should also carefully remove the side roots.

Important! During preparation for storage, root vegetables must not be washed ! Otherwise, they will not be able to be stored for a long time.

After the above manipulations, you need to sort the crop, carefully examining each specimen .

All good root vegetables of normal medium size, without damage, are sent for winter storage . By the way, vegetables with a diameter of about 10-12 centimeters have the best shelf life.

All damaged, atypical specimens (oblique, crooked, asymmetrical) must be immediately separated; it is recommended to immediately use them for food. Too many fruits store worse, so it is also recommended to put them in a separate storage place and use them earlier than others, or immediately use them in the kitchen.

What to do with beets immediately after digging

After trimming, the beets must be dried.

Unlike other vegetable crops, it is dried in a very short period of time. Just 4 hours in the garden or just outdoors is enough. Next, it is recommended to sort by size and grade. At the same time, sick and damaged specimens are selected.

ON A NOTE.
Experienced gardeners recommend storing different varieties separately. And also put small specimens first, and large ones on top.

Harvesting beets

There is no consensus on the best way to extract beets from the soil. Some gardeners suggest making do with their own hands, while others use improvised means. A lot depends on the beets and the soil.

The larger the beets have reached, the more difficult it will be to remove them from the soil.

Beets that reach a large diameter are difficult to grow, especially if the soil itself is dry and hard. Then, in order to avoid cracks and mechanical damage to the vegetable, you have to use equipment. The instructions given below will be based on the most difficult and unfavorable conditions for harvesting beets.

Rules for collecting beets

Choose a dry day without precipitation. Harvesting beets during rain will negatively affect their preservation;
Prepare special equipment: a sharpened knife, a shovel and a container for collecting root vegetables;
Carefully dig up the soil around the vegetable so that it can be removed without unnecessary effort;

Before removing the beets, loosen the soil around the root crop

Using your hands (preferably wearing fabric gloves), clean the vegetable from adhering soil and dry it for several hours. It is unacceptable to carry out this procedure with a knife or other metal devices, which inadvertently risk touching the skin of the vegetable, into which infection can easily penetrate. It is not recommended to wash root vegetables in water;

Use a knife to remove the tops. Breaking out the tops is unacceptable. The resulting cuttings should reach a length of no more than two centimeters. Keep in mind that the tops feed on the juices from the root crop, and if you do not get rid of them in time, it will affect the quality of the beets;

Carefully remove the roots, being careful not to cut off sections of the beets themselves;

The removed tops can later be used to prepare various dishes

After removing the tops, you should leave the beets again in order to give them time to “heal their wounds”;

Even if you did everything perfectly, after harvesting you should leave the beets in a room where the temperature inside will be around 10 degrees. Under such conditions, the vegetable will be able to heal all the microdamages that you caused to it while being removed from the ground. Reparation takes beets from two to four days. At the end of this period, it should be moved to a cellar or basement.

The collected beets must be dried indoors or outdoors.

Important! If the beets were collected in dry and warm weather, then they can be dried directly on the site. In fresh air, beets require much less time to dry - only a few hours. If the harvest day turns out to be rainy, the root crops will have to be dried in a room that meets the criteria specified in paragraph seven.

Sorting

Before sending beets for long-term storage, it is necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of the root crops to determine their suitability. If you add just one damaged vegetable to dozens of healthy ones, the rotting process will quickly affect all the beets in one container. Therefore, the sorting procedure should be approached with special attention:

Fruits that are damaged during cleaning, begin to rot, and are painful in appearance must be immediately disposed of or consumed - at the discretion of the farmer;

Before sending beets for storage, it is necessary to remove rejected root crops

Large fruits, even if they are in excellent condition, are stored much less than other types of beets, and therefore should be placed in a separate container;

It is advisable to package beets in accordance with their variety or ripening period. Early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening fruits should be stored in separate boxes that do not intersect with each other;

The optimal diameter of root crops that are stored the longest is 10-11 centimeters.

Shelf life depends not only on the size, but also on the variety of root crop

Video - Collection and storage of beets

How to store beets in winter

The best way is to store beets in the cellar, but not everyone has this opportunity. Let's look at other suitable storage methods.

Cellar

Cellar storage is preferred.

The harvest is placed in cardboard boxes and wooden boxes, with a little sand sprinkled on top to remove excess moisture. The second option is to scatter on the shelves in 1 layer. It is advisable that individual copies do not touch each other.

ON A NOTE.
It is not advisable to store it on the floor, as there will be no normal air circulation and the vegetables may rot.

Balcony or loggia

On a closed balcony, beets can be stored in untied bags or boxes. It is very important that air circulation is organized. To protect against excess moisture, add sawdust.

ON A NOTE.
When there is severe frost, you can cover with blankets.

Fridge

Within a month, the harvest can be stored in the refrigerator, placed in the vegetable compartment. But boiled beets can be put in the freezer, where they will retain their properties for 6-8 months.

Beet storage

Beets are quite unpretentious, unlike carrots, and do not require strictly defined conditions. It can be stored both in a summer cottage - in a basement or cellar, and in a city apartment - on a balcony or even in a refrigerator. Moreover, this vegetable can be stored even in the fresh air - in trenches or pits.

Storage methods

Storage options are similar for many root vegetables, so if you have already encountered the need to put potatoes or carrots in the cellar, then the “recipes” described below will seem surprisingly similar to you.

Combining beets with potatoes

In order for both vegetables to be better preserved, potatoes should be placed on the bottom layer, and beets on the top. Potatoes do not like excess moisture, while beets are loyal to it. Therefore, if the beets are on top, they will be able to absorb excess liquid from the potatoes, thereby creating an ideal tandem and preventing rotting.

Beets complement potatoes well and absorb excess moisture.

Dipping beets in clay

Clay has long established itself as an excellent remedy that prevents the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and the spread of moisture through root crops. To prepare a solution of the required consistency, it is necessary to mix fatty clay with water to ultimately obtain a substance that is similar in consistency to sour cream. To enhance the effect, you can add chalk powder to the resulting substance.

Immersing root crops in clay promotes their better preservation

Dip each root vegetable separately into the solution, then give it time to dry. There is no need to worry about the safety of the vegetable - before using it, it will be enough to rinse the beets well so that all traces of clay are removed from them.

Sprinkling beets with absorbent

Several names can be used as an adsorbent:

Wood ash;

Sand;

Chalk powder;

Salt.

It is permissible to use river sand as an adsorbent.

In order to use one of the listed adsorbents, you need to place the beets in boxes and sprinkle the root vegetables with the substance you like. Beetroot can be completely buried in sand, but it must be disinfected before use. The best choice would be river sand.

Salt can be used as a sprinkle and as a mixture. To prepare the mixture, simply dissolve a large amount of salt in water, dip the beets in it, and then thoroughly dry the root vegetable.

Wood ash prices

wood ash

Gardening tips and tricks for harvesting beets

Beets can withstand mild frost (down to -4 degrees), but this negatively affects the quality of the vegetable. Therefore, experienced gardeners remove root crops from the garden beds for storage before the first frost arrives.
Experienced gardeners advise paying attention to the weather in which the vegetable grows. If it’s dry and cool, then there’s no need to rush into cleaning. You don’t have to dig the beds, but let the beets sit in the ground for a while. This will make it sweeter. If the weather is rainy, it is better to dig immediately at the first signs of maturity. High humidity negatively affects the keeping quality of the crop. In warm weather, the vegetable becomes too tough, so it is also better to immediately remove it from the garden for storage.
Early ripening varieties of the crop are not stored, but used for consumption.
You can organize joint storage with potatoes in the cellar. Potatoes are poured from below, and beets are laid out on the top layer.
Some summer residents prevent the rotting process by soaking them in clay. To do this, make a mixture of clay and water. As soon as the solution becomes like sour cream, the root vegetables are soaked in it.

Is it possible to harvest beets earlier or later?

Whether beets can be harvested earlier or later depends on their further use. If the root crops will be immediately sold or consumed as food, they can be dug up in July or early August, during thinning.

If the beets are intended for long-term storage, it is undesirable to dig them up ahead of schedule for several reasons:

unripe root vegetables are most often small in size, they quickly wither and wrinkle;
Harvesting too early significantly reduces the amount of harvest, since beets gain the greatest weight at the end of the growing season;
A fully ripened root vegetable accumulates several times more beneficial vitamins, minerals and sugars than unripe beets.

In warm and dry weather, beets can be left in the beds for a couple of days, but no more. If you keep root vegetables in the ground, they can begin to crack, lose their juiciness, become fibrous and have a rough taste.

The best option is to focus on the ripening dates indicated on the bag of seeds or external signs of beet ripeness.

Common mistakes

Despite its apparent simplicity, beginners, out of ignorance, can make a number of mistakes when digging, drying and storing beets.

Digging up root crops. The beets are lightly dug up and then pulled out by the tops. If you dig like potatoes, you can damage the vegetables.
Long drying time in the open air. Dry most of the time indoors. Vegetables are kept outdoors for no more than 4 hours.
Storage in a damp place. The room must be dry to prevent rotting.

Harvesting time by variety

The juice of the sugar root vegetable benefits the body. It can remove toxic substances, lowers cholesterol, increases the level of red blood cells in the blood and lowers blood pressure. But the vegetable must be removed on time and stored correctly. The timing depends on the varietal type of vegetable crop. Harvesting time by variety:

Early varietal species (Boyarynya, Pomegranate juice, Kuban borscht) ripen in 50-80 days and can be harvested by the end of July. These varieties are a little more difficult to preserve than mid-season ones. They are consumed within 60-90 days.
Mid-season varietal species. The ripening period in central Russia and the Moscow region is 80-100 days. Collected from the site from August 15 to September 15. Vegetables are stored well, but by spring they begin to sprout. The most famous varietal types are Bordeaux, Red Bogatyr, Rocket, Cylinder.
Late varietal species (Commander, Matrona, Ethiopian) are harvested for storage from September 15. Root crops are perfectly preserved until fresh harvest, without losing their excellent taste and marketability.

You should be extremely careful when consuming vegetables with low blood pressure, urolithiasis, gout and high acidity. Beet root vegetables are a laxative and it is better not to consume a lot of them. There are 4 main types of beets:

Dining room. Used in cooking. Due to the fact that it contains a lot of betaine, the vegetable is red and is valued in cooking, cosmetology and medicine. Due to the fact that beets have a positive effect on the skin and moisturize well, they are included in creams. Due to folic acid, it is useful for women during pregnancy.
Stern. Used as livestock feed. It is actively given to animals, it increases milk yield, enriches it with vitamins in winter.
Sugar. This is a technical crop, granulated sugar is created from it. After squeezing the sugar, cake remains and is used to feed livestock.
Leafy. They are used both for animal feeding and in culinary dishes. The main value is the foliage due to its protein content (up to 25%), but the root cannot be consumed. Easy to grow, Swiss chard is overly seasonal.

All varieties are of the same origin - a wild vegetable crop, cultivated by breeders.

If the autumn is warm, the vegetable crop will sprout again. But such beets will be tasteless and poorly preserved. Therefore, it is so important to harvest in a timely manner, guided by the advice of experienced vegetable growers and the Lunar calendar.

Collection rules

At first glance, the process is very easy. But, it requires compliance with a number of important nuances and taking into account cultural characteristics:

Beets are harvested in dry weather without precipitation. The slightest amount of moisture negatively affects the shelf life of fruits.
Root crops are pulled out from the ground with your hands, carefully holding onto the tops. This will help avoid damage to the vegetables during harvesting. High soil density requires the use of a fork or shovel. You need to dig in the vegetable carefully so as not to cut it. The presence of cracks causes the development of fungus and infection of neighboring healthy fruits.
The dug up beetroot is freed from tops. To do this, use pruning shears or ordinary household scissors. It is recommended to leave a small tail, about 1 cm. If the root is long, it is also trimmed.
The harvested crop is dried, laid out under a canopy in the open air. As the fruits dry, the beets are turned over to the other side.

Before root crops are placed in storage, they are sorted, laying out large and small ones separately. It is better to throw away vegetables with signs of disease immediately so that they do not infect neighboring ones. Also keep damaged ones aside and use them as soon as possible.

The storage space can be a cellar, basement or pantry.

How to prune beets for the winter for long-term storage

Carefully trim the beet tops

There are 2 ways to trim beets. They both preserve vegetables throughout the winter.

The first, as mentioned above, is trimming the tops, leaving a couple of millimeters above the root crop. The lower ponytails can be left uncut or left only 5-6 cm.

According to the second, the tops are completely cut off. And then, using a sharp knife, remove a layer of the top half a centimeter thick. The sections subsequently dry out. With this option, the beets do not germinate and are stored longer.

How do timing and weather affect beet harvesting?

Warm autumn is not a reason to delay harvesting root crops. Prolonged stay in the soil will make the fruits fibrous and woody.
In rainy autumn, you should not delay cleaning for too long. Root vegetables will become saturated with moisture and lose their taste. If you do not remove the beets for a long time, they may crack and rot.
If the autumn is dry, then the collection can be postponed for a while. Leave it in the ground, the root vegetables will accumulate more useful substances, and such beets will be stored better.

How to properly harvest table and sugar beets

Digging beets at the end of summer or autumn is necessary in accordance with certain rules. The cleaning algorithm looks like this:

To pick vegetables from the beds, choose a clear day without precipitation. The soil should be dry and crumbly; it is not advisable to remove root crops from wet soil, since their shelf life will be shortened.
If the soil in the beds is dense, carefully pry the beets with a fork and pull them up. Fruits are removed from light soil by hand, holding them by the tops. It is not advisable to use shovels during the harvesting process - they can easily damage vegetables, and specimens with wounds are not suitable for winter storage.
After digging the sugar beets, the tops are immediately removed so that the leaves and stems do not evaporate moisture. Greens must be trimmed with pruning shears or large garden shears to stumps no more than 1.5 cm long. The lateral roots of root crops are cut off, large central rods are shortened to 5-7 cm.
After harvesting from the beds, the harvest is laid out in the fresh air under a canopy for 2 to 3 days. The root crops must dry, after which you can shake off excess soil. You should not knock vegetables against each other, as they may be damaged.

Before storing, the fruits are sorted and sorted by size and variety. Damaged, rotten and too small specimens are put into a separate pile. They should be thrown away immediately or processed if they have healthy, juicy pulp.

Attention! Beets must be stored for storage immediately after drying and sorting. There is no need to wash the crop, as the root crops will accumulate excess moisture and, as a result, will not last long in the cellar.

Three weeks before harvest, the beet beds stop being watered.

How to collect beets in the fields

Photos of beet harvesting demonstrate that on an industrial scale, the crop is harvested from the beds using mechanized methods. Digging vegetables for storage by hand in large fields is too difficult, time consuming and ineffective.

Typically, two types of agricultural machinery are used for harvesting: toppers and harvesters. The process looks like this:

The equipment is thoroughly inspected, repaired if necessary, and prepared for intensive, often round-the-clock work.
Lighting fixtures are installed on the machines and the cutting and digging mechanisms are adjusted. Modern combine harvesters have very precise adjustments - they can be programmed to cut leaves to a specific height.
The topping equipment is launched across the fields, and then the harvesting machine is immediately sent to the beds. Fruits removed from the soil are placed on a conveyor belt and loaded into on-board containers.

During the sugar beet harvest season in Russia, it is important to carry out mechanized cutting of tops and digging up vegetables as soon as possible. Leaving the fruits lying in the ground after removing the greenery is unacceptable, as they may dry out or rot.

Signs of beet ripening

The right time to harvest sugar beets for storage is determined primarily by the appearance of the root crops. There are several signs that indicate maturation:

Dimensions. Ripe fruits acquire the dimensions indicated by the manufacturer on the package with seeds.
Condition of the leaves. The lower plates of the bushes become yellowish and wither, the plant stops developing.
Fruit. Small growths appear on the visible parts of vegetables.

If you dig a ripe beet out of the ground, you will see that its main root has become thin and dry. If the feeding shoots of the root crop are white, powerful and developed, the plant is still in the process of ripening.