In Ukraine, beets are one of the most popular vegetables, without which it is impossible to prepare the favorite folk dish called borscht. It is also considered a superfood due to the highest sugar content of any vegetable.
Table beets come in different colors and shapes, and every year breeders create new varieties and hybrids with high yields, resistance to diseases and temperature changes, high taste, etc. To make it easier for our customers to make a choice among the variety of beet varieties, we have made a rating of the best seeds that have been popular in our store for many years.
Vodan F1 (Bejo)
Photo of table beet Vodan F1
An early hybrid of table beet, which is ready for harvesting in 85-90 days. Recommended for sowing from late February to May.
A plant with a small leaf apparatus located vertically. Resistant to low temperatures.
Root crops are round in shape, uniform in size. The pulp is a uniform dark red color without radial rings, the peel is smooth.
Vodan F1 is used to obtain early bunched products; it is also stored for a long time and does not lose its commercial qualities.
Review of Vodan F1 beets from Svetlana B.:
An excellent harvest even on our poor soil!
What the original packaging and beet seeds Vodan F1 look like
Features of cultivation
Cultivating a hybrid is not difficult. Young plants prefer open, sunny places, but can easily tolerate slight shading (for example, tall crops growing nearby).
Young beet plants develop well in open sunny places
Similar to other varieties of beets, this hybrid “does not like” acidified soils, but is quite tolerant of other soil parameters. It can be grown in beds that were fertilized last season (after crops such as cucumbers or cabbage), without introducing additional fertilizing. Plants do not suffer from low temperatures and do not become capricious when there is a lack of moisture: in hot weather, 2-3 waterings per week are enough for them. Among the main advantages of “Pablo F1” it is also important to note:
- weakly affected by insect pests;
- is resistant to fungal diseases;
- plants are not prone to flowering;
- the skins of root crops do not become rough or crack.
In general, the hybrid can be characterized as problem-free, productive, with outstanding consumer properties, and is recommended for cultivation by all summer residents.
You can watch the presentation from the official distributor of Bejo Zaden in Belarus in the following video:
Detroit (Semenaoptom)
Detroit beetroot
A universal variety of early beets that can be harvested 80-100 days after the seeds germinate.
A plant with a small rosette, characterized by good plasticity, endurance and resistance to bolting.
Root crops are regular, round in shape, homogeneous, with an average weight of 250 g. The skin is smooth, dark red in color. Pulp without radial rings.
The advantages of the Detroit red beet variety are that it is suitable for long-term storage and processing, and due to its beautiful presentation, it is in demand in the fresh vegetable market.
Antifake. Detroit beet seeds
How to grow delicious beets?
Table red beets prefer fertile soil to neutral acidity. An excellent harvest can be obtained on loose, well-drained, sunlit soil. This vegetable can grow on loam and sandy loam soil. Does not tolerate acidic soils. The soil after cucumbers, tomatoes, and potatoes is suitable for beets. The soil is prepared in the fall, the ground is dug up, and rotted humus is added.
Red beet seeds are sown in spring - at the end of April or at the beginning of May. By this time the soil should warm up to 8 degrees Celsius.
Before planting, the seed is soaked in a solution of superphosphate, ash or growth stimulant for 23 hours.
Red beets are a cold-resistant crop and can be sown before winter. In the case of winter planting, the seeds are sown in the ground in October (until November). It is better to buy seed material ready-made, but you can grow flower stalks yourself.
Seeds are sown in rows and buried 2-4 centimeters into the soil. There should be 0.30-0.40 meters of free land between adjacent rows. Seeds are sown at a distance of 5-8 centimeters from each other.
Grown seedlings are thinned out, weeded regularly, and weeds are removed from the field. Twice a season, beet beds are fed with organic or mineral potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Water beets 1-2 times a week. The beet beds are watered with salt water two or three times a season. Watering is stopped 15 days before harvest.
Table vegetable beets are harvested when the root crops have grown to the desired size and the lower leaves have turned yellow and dried out. The fruits are pulled out of the ground with a pitchfork in the first half of the day and the tops are immediately cut off, leaving petioles 1 centimeter long at the base. There is no need to trim the tails.
Pablo F1 (Bejo)
Beet hybrid Pablo F1
A mid-early, high-yielding hybrid of table beets that can be sown in two rotations. Ripening period is 90-115 days.
The plant is unpretentious, resistant to bolting and cercospora. It also has good frost resistance.
The root crops are round, 11-15 cm in diameter and weighing 220-450 g. The peel is smooth, dark burgundy in color. The inside of the beets is dark red, without rings.
Pablo F1 is used for growing bunched products, fresh market, processing and long-term storage.
Anti-fake or how to distinguish original Pablo F1 beet seeds from a fake
Hybrid variety parameters
The hybrid variety was bred by breeders from Bejo Zaden (Netherlands). In our country, it has become widespread as a crop suitable for cultivation not only in personal gardens, but also on farms in commercial production. That is why in 1993 the hybrid was included in the State Register. Today, “Pablo F1” beet seeds are sold by most well-known agribusinesses, “SeDeK”, “Gavrish”, “Poisk” and many others).
Hybrid beet seeds "Pablo F1" in packages from various manufacturers
The plants are unpretentious, resistant to unfavorable growing conditions. Recommended for cultivation in all climatic zones of the country, as well as in the territories of Ukraine, Belarus (in the State Register since 2005) and Moldova. The ripening period is mid-early: root crops reach technical ripeness in 115-120 days from the appearance of full shoots. The yield is high: 6-7 kg of root crops can be collected from a square meter of bed. According to the results of state variety trials conducted in Belarus, the yield averaged 6.8 t/ha, the maximum was 12.4 t/ha.
The high yield and marketability of the root crops of this hybrid have ensured its great popularity in commercial vegetable growing.
The rosette of leaves is erect, compact. The petioles are dark red, the leaves are small, oval, green with purple-red veins. Root crops are formed almost on the surface of the soil, have a round shape, a thin, smooth dark red skin, and a small tail. The weight of each is on average 150-180 g with a diameter of 10 to 15 cm; individual root vegetables can weigh more than 300 g. The pulp is dense, bright, dark red, almost without radial “rings,” juicy and sweet, with a characteristic beetroot aroma.
Tasting assessment of the taste qualities of fresh products – 4 points (out of 5).
Dense and juicy pulp with a pronounced taste and aroma provides Pablo F1 beets with versatility of use
Root crops are distinguished by high marketability - 94.9% (of the total harvest) and shelf life - 78.3%.
If storage conditions are observed, root vegetables do not lose their attractive appearance and wonderful taste for 4-5 months. They are suitable for fresh consumption, all methods of processing, cooking hot and cold dishes, as well as home canning (pickling, inclusion in vegetable mixtures, etc.).
Voivode F1 (Lucky Seed)
Beet hybrid Voevoda F1
Mid-season hybrid of red beet with a growing season of 100-120 days.
The plant is resistant to bolting and the development of common diseases, including cercospora.
The root vegetables are dark red in color, regular round in shape and weigh 200-250 g. The pulp is deep red, sweet and juicy.
Voivode F1 is distinguished by high taste and marketability.
It is also well transported and stored for 5-6 months.
Review of Voevoda F1 beets from Valentina T.:
Hanged in 2022. I'm so honored. Rich colors, smooth surface, and the smut itself is sweet. On Poliss, the table beetroots are not always delicious. And I’m happy about this. I recommend it for virility.
Voevoda F1 beetroot in the field
Zepo F1 (Zeppo F1) (Rijk Zwaan)
Photo of beet Zepo F1
A universal hybrid of table beets for early and late sowing. The growing season is 60-65 days.
A plant with powerful leaf apparatus, resistant to diseases. Suitable for growing under or without covering material.
The root crop is smooth, beautiful, round in shape with a small tail. Pulp with a high content of sugars and dry substances.
The advantages of the Zepo F1 beet variety are that it is suitable for mechanized harvesting and can be stored for a long time without losing its commercial qualities.
Review of the beet hybrid Zepo F1 at the Rijk Zwaan seminar
Bicores (Semenaoptom)
Photo of beets Bikores
Late high-yielding variety of table beet for storage, processing and fresh consumption.
The plant is powerful, produces a uniform and high-quality harvest. The growing season lasts 120-130 days.
Root vegetables are round in shape, uniform in size, with a smooth skin, weighing 250-400 g. The pulp is a uniform dark burgundy color without radial rings.
The versatility of the Bikores beet variety is that it is suitable for use in home cooking, industrial processing and storage.
What do the original seeds of the Bikores beet variety look like?
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the Boro F1 root vegetable include::
- No special conditions are required for cultivation.
- Excellent for mechanical cleaning, which is important for farmers involved in agriculture.
- High quality beets, good presentation, smooth, round sides.
- Can be consumed fresh.
- Used for the production of food coloring.
The disadvantages of this variety include the granular structure inside and the coloring pigment on the hands when cleaning.
Bonel (Hazera)
Red beet Bonel
A universal mid-early variety for obtaining early products per bunch, processing and storage. The growing season is 110-115 days from germination.
The plant is resistant to bolting and is suitable for cultivation in many soil and climatic conditions.
The roots are smooth, round in shape, medium in size, dark red in color, without rings with smooth shiny covers.
The table beet variety Bonel has excellent taste and aroma, so it is in demand among buyers.
Which variety should you choose?
Table red beets are used to prepare traditional borscht, vinaigrette, or herring under a fur coat salad. When choosing a variety, they are guided by taste characteristics, color of the root crop and the absence of light rings. It is important to choose beet varieties adapted to your region of residence. In this case, you are guaranteed to get an excellent harvest.
The most favorite among vegetable growers are 3 varieties of table beets - Bordeaux, Egyptian, Erfurt. Bordeaux is a classic vegetable with a round shape and dark burgundy color. This crop is grown in different regions and is stored for a long time after harvesting.
Egyptian is a flat-round table (vegetable) beet with a deep purple-burgundy color. The pulp has a sweetish-delicate taste. Grown for summer consumption.
Erfurt is a cylindrical table (vegetable) beet with a dark red color. Ripens in autumn. Erfurt varieties retain their shape and taste well until the next harvest.
Each vegetable grower decides independently which variety to sow in the garden. Small root vegetables are suitable for food, so after ripening the vegetables need to be dug up. Overripe large fruits are tasteless, bland, and less sweet.
Taunus F1 (Bejo)
Cylindrical beet Taunus F1
High-yielding hybrid of table beets for storage, processing and fresh consumption. The growing season is 110 days.
A plant with a small root collar and a small leaf rosette, which provide an ideal marketable product.
Root vegetables are cylindrical in shape, leveled, with a smooth skin. The pulp is dark red, without radial rings.
The advantages of the table beet hybrid Taunus F1 are that it forms a high yield in various growing conditions.
Review of table beet Taunus F1 from Leonid A.:
My favorite hybrid. Very beautiful and comfortable shape, and always sweet. I can grow any kind of beetroot, but the hybrid decides a lot.
Detailed description of the original seed Taunus F1
Cylinder (Semenaoptom)
Varietal beet Cylinder
A mid-season variety of table beet, which is ready for harvesting after 115-120 days from the start of germination.
A plant with strong leaf apparatus. It is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and tolerance to major diseases.
The root crop is cylindrical in shape, dark red in color, up to 15 cm long and weighing up to 350 grams. The pulp is rich red, juicy, without radial rings.
The Cylinder beet variety stores well and is also suitable for processing and use in home cooking. Does not bolt when overgrown or under stressful conditions.
Antifake: Stop fakes. What does the original packaging of Cylinder beet seeds look like?
Step-by-step instructions for growing
To grow Boro F1 beetroot at home, it is enough to follow a few simple rules.
Where and for how much can I buy seed material?
To sow in your garden, buy one or more bags of seeds weighing 0.1 g (75 pieces per pack). The average cost on the market ranges from 30 to 45 rubles.
In Moscow you can buy seeds in stores:
- "First Seeds";
- "Harvest bed";
- "Lawn Zone".
Visit the shops in St. Petersburg:
- "Estate";
- "Living Lawn";
- "Garden Practitioner"
Boarding time
Boro F1 beet seeds are planted in the ground at the end of spring, namely in the first half of May. At this time, the earth is sufficiently warmed up and the air temperature is warm.
On a note! This variety can be sown in winter, after October 20 until mid-November.
Choosing a growing location
Since Boro loves a lot of sun, consider the duration of sunlight when choosing a planting site.
- Shaded sides are not suitable when the sun quickly disappears behind the building.
- Depressions and lowlands - the root crop does not like a lot of dampness, high humidity, which accumulates in such places.
- Consider what crops preceded sowing in the selected area. For example, the beet does not feel well after eating cabbage, radishes, or rapeseed; Tolerant of carrots, peas, and onions. Expect a good harvest if beetroot is sown in a place where cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and beans grew.
It is not recommended to plant beet variety Boro F1 in the same place every year . This has a bad effect on yield.
What should the soil be like?
For a good harvest, the soil should not be acidic, heavy, clayey, or without stagnant water. The root crop loves light sandy soil, loose black soil, because it rises half above the ground.
The soil must be:
- breathable;
- slightly alkaline;
- loamy.
Important! If the soil is chosen incorrectly, the root crop will grow with veins, small size, and an uneven external shape.
Landing
Before planting, beet seeds must be prepared.
- Fill with warm water and remove any that float to the surface.
- Place the remaining seeds in a saucer, wrap in gauze and pour in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Epin, Zircon.
Make shallow furrows of 2–4 cm in the soil, and sow the seeds at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The width between the beds (according to the instructions on the package) should be 45–60 cm; on a summer cottage, a row spacing of 25–30 cm is sufficient. Before sowing, water the beds so that the seeds are well accepted .
Temperature
At a stable air temperature of +10 degrees, the first shoots can be observed after 10 - 15 days. These are the most optimal indicators for beets.
- If the temperature drops to +3 - +4 degrees, the sprouts will hatch no earlier than in a month.
- Warm weather with +15 – +20 degrees stimulates seed growth in one week.
Watering
The Boro F1 variety does not like a lot of moisture. Therefore, it is better to water the first time when the first leaves appear or if the soil is very dry. It is enough to water once a week for the young beet to feel great. As they grow, the amount of watering is reduced, and a month before harvesting it is necessary to stop altogether.
On a note! It is recommended to water the root crop in the evening and loosen the soil around the plant in the morning.
Top dressing
Feeding the beet is one of the important points. For a good harvest, you need to add useful substances to the soil :
- nitrogen – necessary for growth;
- potassium, phosphorus, boron - for the formation of root crops.
The first feeding is given with the appearance of the first leaves . This can be a solution of a weak infusion of cow (1:8) or chicken (1:12) manure. The interval between feedings is from one to two weeks.
Other care measures
To obtain a rich harvest, the following procedures are performed:
- Thinning of seedlings . As soon as the beet seedlings have reached 10 cm, they need to be thinned out. The result is large fruits that will not interfere with each other’s growth.
- Weeding is a mandatory procedure to remove weeds that can choke the growth of beets.
- Loosening the soil will allow air to penetrate deep into the soil, allow the roots to breathe, and break up the dried crust after watering.
- Hilling up . Grown seedlings are hilled so that the root crops do not overheat in the sun.
- Mulching with peat or compost to reduce watering and loosening.
Harvesting
The first harvest can be harvested when the root crop has reached 5–7 cm in diameter , the leaves of the beet turn yellow, wither and fall to the ground. As a rule, this is the summer period from July to early September.
You should not delay the harvesting time, because the first frosts can destroy the tops and fruits, which will not allow them to be stored for a long time.
In order not to damage the grown root crops, they must be collected correctly:
- use a garden fork or shovel;
- carefully dig up, holding the tops with your hand;
- pull out the root crop and clean it from the soil;
- let dry in the shade.
Information! Farmers use special equipment to collect beetroot from the fields.
Tonda di Keja (SAIS)
Borscht beetroot Tonda di Keja
Extra-early borscht beet, which can be harvested 75-90 days after seed germination.
The plant is compact, with beautiful foliage. Quickly forms medium-sized root crops.
The fruits are round in shape, with a smooth pink surface. The pulp is white with pink concentric rings.
The advantages of the Tonda di Keja beet variety are that it can be stored for a long time without losing its commercial qualities.
It can be used fresh and for processing.
Review of borscht beet Tonda di Kezha from Alexander G.:
Virus licorice beet, as in the picture.
Bordeaux (Semenaoptom)
Bordeaux beetroot
Medium-ripening varietal table beet. The growing season lasts about 110 days.
The plant is powerful, with dark green leaves and burgundy petioles. The variety is resistant to rot.
Root vegetables are rich red in color, uniformly round in shape and weighing up to 500 grams.
The pulp is dense, juicy, dark burgundy in color, without radial rings.
Bordeaux is a universally used beet that performs well in storage.
Red Bull (United Genetics)
High-yield varietal beets Red Bull
A mid-early variety of table beet that can be harvested 100–105 days after germination.
The leaf rosette is compact, with small leaves. The plant is resistant to bolting and common beet diseases (including cercospora).
The fruits are round, without roughness, dark red in color, with a diameter of 8 to 10 cm. They have a characteristic pronounced taste that is not lost even after heat treatment.
Advantages of the Red Bull beet variety: shelf life without loss of quality for up to 6 months, suitability for processing and preparing homemade dishes.
Review of red beets Red Bull from Natalia Shch.:
Very good, sweet, dark, garnished, rounded in shape, garnished with germination and harvest.
Features of growing Red Bull beets
Red Ball (Semenaoptom)
Photo of red beetroot
An early ripening variety of table beet (95 - 105 days) for fresh use and long-term storage.
The plant is cold-resistant and relatively resistant to rot.
Recommended for summer and autumn harvest.
Root vegetables of regular round shape, weighing 250-350 grams. The pulp is dark red, sweet, tender and very juicy.
Red Ball has excellent taste for use in cooking and is used for storage.
Review of red beets Red Ball from Ivan Vasilyevich P.:
It’s not enough for a salad, but for borscht it’s just what you need - and the color is good and the flavor is pleasant. Lying well with us, if you want to call the variety, it’s not too long to lie down.
Description of packaging and original red beet seeds Red Ball
Camaro F1 (Vilmorin)
Hybrid beet Camaro F1
A mid-early hybrid of table beets for universal use for obtaining products per bunch, processing and long-term storage.
The leaf apparatus is well attached to the root crop. The plant forms a harvest 105-110 days after the first seedlings appear.
Root crops are smooth, uniform in color and size, with a high yield of marketable products. Inside the flesh is a rich dark burgundy color, without radial rings.
Camaro F1 is resistant to stressful growing conditions and tolerant to beet leaf diseases.
Storing the beet harvest Camaro F1
Diseases and pests
Boro F1 beets are resistant to various diseases and pests. But, if the rules of cultivation or care are violated, for example, acidic or depleted soil, lack of fertilizers, the plant may become deformed and become sick. What diseases and pests may occur, their causes:
- The main pest is the root beetle, which attacks young plants at the seedling stage.
- Aphids - attack foliage, the base of the root.
- Beet flea beetles eat the pulp of the leaves.
- Emptiness in the root crop is a lack of vitamins and moisture.
- Phoma, leaf damage, spots - lack of boron.
- Blackening of the pulp - excess nitrogen.
Kestrel F1 (Sakata)
Table beet Kestrel F1
A hybrid of table beets with unsurpassed taste. Ripens in 115-120 days for spring sowing or in 55-60 days for summer planting.
The tops are erect, bright green, 30-33 cm high. The plant is resistant to spring cold, cercospora and peronospora.
The root crop is round in shape with a smooth dark red surface and a thin tail. The inner pulp is dark red, slightly ringed and has a sugar content of 10-12%.
Kestrel F1 is intended for obtaining bunched products, fresh consumption, processing and storage.
Kestrel F1 table beet in the field
Renova (Moravoseed)
Photo of Renova beetroot
Late variety of salad-type table beet for processing and storage. The growing season is 125-130 days.
The plant is resistant to common diseases and flowering. Tolerates negative weather factors well.
The root vegetables are cylindrical in shape, medium in size, up to 15 cm long and weighing 180-350 g. The surface is smooth, burgundy in color, and the internal structure is dark red, without rings.
The differences between the Renova beet variety for storage are its rich color, sweetness, juiciness and, of course, excellent taste.
Prevention of various problems
For preventive purposes, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the beets and soil.:
- When digging, select yellow larvae by hand.
- Remove wheatgrass roots. It stifles the growth of the plant.
- Add fertilizer and lime to the soil.
- Spray the tops with soapy water, treat with ash and tobacco dust.
- Fungi have appeared that cause brown spots on the leaves - there is a lot of moisture, it is necessary to thin out and reduce watering.
Following all the recommendations will allow you to grow a unique variety of Boro beets. Its high yield, resistance to disease and frost are liked not only by beginning gardeners, but also by experienced farmers.
Nobol (Clause)
Varietal beetroot Nobol
An early variety of beet that can be grown to produce bunched products and vegetables for long-term storage. The growing season is 90-95 days.
The plant is strong, the tops are medium, but very strong, which makes harvesting easier. Resistant to shooting.
Root crops are round in shape, smooth, leveled, uniform in size, intense dark burgundy color, without pronounced internal radial rings. Average weight – 200-250 grams.
Nobol is suitable for all types of processing, including the production of natural dyes.
Review of Nobol beets from Tatiana K.:
The beets are excellent, and on our sandy soil they are sweet! I recommend!
Review of the original packaging of Nobol beets
Detailed characteristics and description of the variety
Boro is a mid-late beet variety . The growing season, from the first shoots to ripeness, is 100 – 125 days. The unpretentious crop can withstand slight temperature changes, so it is successfully grown in most regions of the country, including the Far East.
On a note! In terms of characteristics, Boro F1 is superior to the popular Pablo F1 variety, but inferior to the domestic Bordeaux 237 variety.
Appearance of beets:
- Boro fruit has a round shape;
- smooth surface, without roughness;
- the peel of the fruit is thin, easy to peel in any form: fresh, boiled;
- the color is dark red, after heat treatment it becomes burgundy;
- the tip is thin, burgundy;
- The pulp is juicy, sweet, there are no annular zones, and has a light purple tint.
Boro F1 beets are recommended for planting in open ground, with plenty of sun . The yield per hectare averages from 60 to 80 tons.
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