Detroit beets: variety description, cultivation

Beetroot is an important ingredient in many traditional dishes. Without it, it’s hard to imagine borscht, herring “under a fur coat,” vinaigrette and other beloved culinary delights. This root vegetable is not only tasty, but also healthy. It is recommended for children and pregnant women with low hemoglobin levels.

There are many varieties and hybrids of this plant on the market. And every gardener wants to choose from all this abundance an option that will have excellent taste and high yield. Detroit beets have these and many other advantages. How to grow it on your site - read on.

Origin story

Despite the name, Detroit beets have nothing to do with the United States. Her homeland is Italy. The variety was bred by breeders of the company Zorzi Sementi SRL in the early 90s.

Russian gardeners met him in 1994. Three years later, Detroit table beets were included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements at the request of a group of agricultural firms.

Detroit beet seeds are produced by different manufacturers.

The variety is recognized as the most suitable for planting in the Central region. But the experience of gardeners living in other areas indicates that it successfully adapts to a variety of features of the local climate.

Reviews from gardeners

“It’s not a picky variety; I’ve been planting it for several seasons in a row. I encounter pests from time to time, but spraying helps get rid of them. I really like the taste of beets - surprisingly rich and sweet.”

“I read a lot of good reviews about this variety and planted it in several beds for the first time. The harvest was good, there were no problems during cultivation. I left most of it stored in the basement for the winter.”

Detroit beets are a popular variety in Russia, which is recommended for growing in different climatic zones. Amateur vegetable growers have long appreciated varieties of root vegetables for their good taste and yield.

Description and characteristics of the Detroit beet variety

Detroit – mid-season table beet. It takes 85-105 days for root crops to ripen from the moment they emerge from the seeds. The exact timing depends on how lucky the gardener is with the weather during the summer. The variety is officially recommended not only for cultivation on personal plots for personal consumption, but also for cultivation by farms.

The rosette of the Detroit variety is semi-vertical, relatively compact, and of medium height. The leaves are not large, although there are quite a lot of them. The surface of the leaf plate is almost flat, with slightly pronounced “bubbling” and slightly wavy edges. The root vegetables are regular, round in shape, with smooth skin of a typical “beetroot” color. The root is very thin and short.

Root crops ripen in different sizes. The weight of Detroit beets varies between 110-215 g. The yield is quite high - 9-10 kg/m².

Most (82-91%) are marketable

The pulp is a rich burgundy-red color, without light “rings” and “veins”. It is very juicy, dense, uniform in texture, but at the same time tender. The characteristic sweetish taste is clearly distinguishable. It is explained by the fact that the percentage of sugar content in Detroit beets is higher than many others - 12.3-14.2%.

Gardeners value it for its overall “stress resistance.” This variety successfully adapts to a wide range of not always favorable climatic conditions and the influence of negative environmental factors. The seedlings do not suffer from returning spring frosts or slight negative temperatures. Detroit beets are also suitable for planting before winter; in the spring, the seeds germinate en masse.

Also, Detroit beets have a high dry matter content (17.6-20.4%). This explains its transportability and keeping quality. Root vegetables are stored at least until the end of winter (often until the beginning of the next season), maintaining the texture of the pulp and taste.

The purpose of the variety is universal. Detroit beets are widely used in cooking, fresh and boiled, for preparing salads, appetizers, first and second courses. You can squeeze juice out of it and use it as an ingredient in homemade preparations for the winter.

After heat treatment, Detroit beets retain the rich color of the pulp and most of the healthy substances

Important! Detroit is a variety, not a hybrid, of beets. Therefore, seeds from independently grown specimens can be used for planting in the future.

Detroit beets: reviews from those who planted

Below are some of the reviews from vegetable growers about the Detroit beet variety:

Tatyana, 39 years old:

“For many years now I have been growing different varieties of beets in my garden, trying to choose the most productive variety with a long shelf life of the harvested crop. A couple of years ago, a salesman advised me to plant Detroit beets in my garden beds. I really liked this variety - high yield, medium-sized root crops - sweet, juicy, and can be stored for a long time in appropriate conditions. And growing them is not too difficult.”

Natalia, 50 years old:

“I have been growing Detroit beets for several years now, as this root crop ripens in just 3 months, does not require special care, is not affected by diseases, and is stored for a long time. In a word, I now recommend this variety of beets to all my neighboring summer residents.”

Svetlana, 44 years old:

“I decided to try planting beets in my garden before winter. I was recommended to try the Detroit variety. I took a chance and sowed a bed of these root crops in early November, almost before the frost. In the spring, these vegetable plants sprouted soon after the snow melted. As an experiment, I planted another bed of Detroit beets in the spring. So those seedlings that were planted before winter grew and produced a harvest several weeks earlier than in the bed where the seeds were planted in the spring. All root vegetables are approximately the same size, have a sweet taste for beets, and their keeping quality was excellent.”

Varieties

Detroit beets seemed so successful to breeders that they used them as a “base” for further experiments. As a result, several varieties appeared.

Detroit Dark Red (Detroit Dark Red)

It differs from the “original” in early ripeness and increased sugar content. The weight of root vegetables varies even more - in the range of 80-250 g.

Detroit Dark Red beets are recommended for fresh consumption and juicing.

Detroit 6 Rubidus (Detroit 6 Rubidus)

Also an early variety. It tolerates frosts, low temperatures during the growing season and light deficiency better than the “classic” Detroit beets.

Detroit 6 Rubidus beet fruits are relatively one-dimensional, weighing 120-150 g

Detroit 2 Nero (Detroit 2 Nero)

A medium-late ripening variety with a higher yield than regular Detroit beets (10-12 kg/m²). Root crops are almost one-dimensional (140-160 g), regular, round in shape.

Nitrates do not accumulate in Detroit 2 Nero beet pulp, even if you overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers

Important! The second of the described varieties was included in the State Register in 2008 under the name “Detroit ruby ​​3”.

General characteristics of the plant

Table beet of the Detroit variety was bred in Italy and includes several varieties:

• Dark red - has intensely colored, dark red flesh without light rings;
• Rubidus - similar to the previous type, differs in the calibration of root crops and is specially created for mechanized harvesting;
• Nero - the flesh is dark burgundy, otherwise the vegetable resembles the shape of the previous varieties.

For an amateur gardener, there is not much difference in the choice of varieties. They have approximately the same period of ripening of root crops for harvesting and average yield.

The plant has large, well-developed rosette leaves with intense red petioles and veins. The color of the leaf blade is rich green, and changing it and shredding the leaves often indicates a lack of microelements.

The plant is not prone to flowering and tolerates spring frosts and cold snaps well, but may suffer if the temperature drops below -2°C. If the forecast is unfavorable, it is recommended to cover the beds with crops or seedlings with lutrasil and mulch with a thick layer of sawdust or straw. Sprinkling or smoking is used over large areas.

The Detroit variety is highly resistant to downy mildew and various types of root rot. Beets can be damaged by insect pests, against which insecticides must be used. In too wet years, young root crops are attacked by slugs, which not only spoil the presentation of the crop, but also reduce the keeping quality of the crop after harvesting. If there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil, the vegetable may crack, which also negatively affects both its appearance and its ability to be stored in winter.

Advantages and disadvantages

The popularity of Detroit beets among amateur gardeners and professional farmers is easily explained by its significant advantages:

• stability of fruiting, despite the vagaries of the weather in summer;
• presentable appearance of root crops;
• uniform pulp texture;
• excellent taste and versatility of use;
• ability to withstand returning spring frosts, summer heat, drought;
• very good immunity;
• keeping quality and transportability;
• resistance to flowering and bolting;
• mass “friendly” fruiting;
• Consistently high seed germination and the percentage of marketable fruits at harvest;
• general lack of care requirements.

Gardeners who plant beets in Detroit almost always have a harvest.

The only relative disadvantage is the relatively small size of the root crops. But many people like these varieties - they are more convenient to store.

Advantages and disadvantages

The prevalence of Detroit beets among summer residents is explained by the presence of a large number of comparative advantages. These include:

1. Consistently high yield. In practice, the seeds of this variety germinate well and ripen in large quantities.
2. Disease resistance. By following the rules of care and periodically feeding, it is possible to prevent damage by pests and infections.
3. Well preserved. Having created suitable storage conditions, you can leave the harvested crop for a long time without fear that it will deteriorate or lose its taste characteristics.
4. Transportability. The dense surface of root crops allows them to be transported without the risk of damage.
5. Frost resistance. When the temperature periodically drops, the seedlings do not die and can withstand frost without damaging the harvest.
6. Uniform germination and ease of cultivation. Table beets are unpretentious in growing conditions, which significantly reduces labor costs.

There are no obvious deficiencies in this variety. You can only encounter problems when growing if you do not care for the plants.

Beet planting methods Detroit

Like any beets, Detroit can be grown either by seedlings or by sowing seeds directly into the garden bed. But the practice of Russian gardeners shows that the first method (which, by the way, requires a lot of time and effort) is not very suitable for this variety. After transplanting into beds, seedlings take a long time to adapt to their new habitat. As a result, these plants lag behind in development from those grown in open ground from seeds and form smaller root crops.

Seedling growing method

Detroit beet seedlings are grown according to the following algorithm:

1. Treat the seeds in a solution of any fungicide or potassium permanganate (bright pink) to prevent fungal diseases.
2. Plant them in boxes or containers filled with universal soil for seedlings or a mixture of black soil with peat chips and sand (2:1:1), after thoroughly moistening and leveling the substrate. Seeds are sown one at a time to a depth of approximately 1.5 cm, leaving 2-2.5 cm between them, and 3.5-4 cm between rows.
3. Before the Detroit beets sprout (this takes 7-10 days), cover the container with plastic wrap, glass, and put it in a dark, warm place. It is necessary to control the condition of the soil, not allowing it to dry out completely, and to ventilate the “greenhouse” daily so that condensation does not accumulate in it.
4. Transfer the seedlings to the light. In the phase of the first true leaf, thin out the plantings, leaving 3-4 cm between adjacent specimens. At the same time, you can feed them with any fertilizer for seedlings based on vermicompost, but this is an optional step. Detroit beet seedlings only need timely watering.
5. In the phase of the third true leaf, plant the seedlings in the ground with an interval of 15-20 cm and a row spacing of 30-35 cm. First water the bed well (20-25 l/m²). Mulch the soil. In the first 7-10 days after transplanting, it is better to cover the soil with plastic film or dark covering material at night.

If the soil in the container dries out, the seedlings will die

Important! About a week before transplanting Detroit beet seedlings into the garden, it is recommended to begin hardening them off by taking them out into the open air and gradually increasing the time spent outside.

Seeds in open ground

Planting is preceded by choosing a location for the garden bed. Detroit beets are undemanding to growing conditions, but you need to take into account that an ideal site for them meets several criteria:

• good lighting;
• availability of protection from strong winds and drafts;
• neutral or slightly acidic soil, this is the main “requirement”: in an alkaline or acidified substrate, Detroit beets will simply die;
• soil nutrition, combined with water and air permeability (sandy loam, loam);
• suitable “predecessors” (all crops from the Pumpkin, Solanaceae, Legume families, onions, garlic, herbs).

Important! Detroit beets should not be planted where any variety of cabbage or other root vegetables were grown the previous season.

In the fall, the selected bed is dug up, humus (3-5 l/m²) and complex phosphorus-potassium fertilizer (20-25 g/m²) are added. If necessary, use other substances to ensure the required acid-base balance.

Detroit beet seeds require pre-planting preparation. The easiest way is to soak them for a day in warm (40-45 ° C) water. It needs to be changed periodically to maintain the temperature. Another way is to wrap them in a damp cloth or napkin (it should not be allowed to dry out), put them on a saucer and place it close to the radiator.

Important! Clumped seeds are planted as is, without trying to separate them. Otherwise, they will receive “incompatible with life” damage.

Before planting Detroit beet seeds, the bed is well loosened, the soil is moistened and leveled. They are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm, if possible one at a time, with an interval of about 15 cm. The minimum row spacing is 30 cm. If you sow the seeds uncontrolled, the plantings will have to be thinned out later.

Beets are thinned out by cutting off “unnecessary” seedlings so as not to damage the roots of those left in the garden.

Consumer qualities

Root crops of all varieties of the Detroit variety have a round, almost spherical shape. The central root is thin and short. Vegetables are uniform in size, rarely become small and do not grow too large. The average weight of 1 root vegetable is 150-200 g.

The average yield reaches 5-7 kg per 1 m². Detroit beets bear fruit consistently if the rules of agricultural technology are observed in any climatic conditions.

The skin covering the root crops remains soft when technically ripe, so young beetroot is only thoroughly washed before use. As it ripens, the rind hardens and becomes inedible. When consumed, it is cut off with part of the pulp. But the rough skin of mature beets serves to preserve the vegetable from withering in winter. Thanks to its density, Detroit beets can remain in a cold cellar until almost the new harvest.



Detroit beets have gained great popularity for their high yield, taste and excellent appearance. The variety is unpretentious to growing conditions and requires minimal care. The description and characteristics of this variety are given below.

Beet care Detroit

Even novice gardeners can care for Detroit beets:

1. Watering. Until the root crops form, water the bed every 2-3 days, not allowing the soil to dry out completely. Next, switch to weekly watering, spending approximately 15-20 l/m². Of course, the intervals are adjusted taking into account natural precipitation and air temperature. A month before harvest, it is important to stop watering altogether.
2. Loosening and weeding. Carry out the next day after watering. You cannot allow the soil in the garden bed to “cake” into a hard crust that does not allow water and oxygen to reach the roots.
3. Mulching. An optional, but very useful agrotechnical event. If you mulch the bed immediately after planting Detroit beets, you can water it less often later. Mulch also saves time on loosening and weeding.
4. Thinning. Required only for uncontrolled planting of Detroit beet seeds. It is carried out twice - in the phase of the 2-3rd and 5-6th true leaves. The most powerful and developed plants are left in the garden bed, maintaining an interval between them of 3-4 cm and 7-8 cm, respectively.
5. Feeding. In the phase of the 2-3rd true leaf, the best option is any fertilizer based on natural organic matter to stimulate the growth of green mass. Then, approximately in the middle of the growing season, a complex fertilizer is applied for root crops or specifically for beets. Excess fertilizer causes cracks and voids in Detroit beet roots.

Sometimes Detroit beets can get by with natural precipitation during the season.

Important! To increase the sugar content of root crops, experienced gardeners recommend adding regular table salt (2-3 tablespoons per 10 liters) to the water for irrigation once every 2-3 weeks.

Detroit beets: agricultural technology for growing

In most regions, it is recommended to plant seed material from the second ten days of April. Areas for planting are prepared in advance; in the fall, humus or rotted compost is added for digging. In the spring, grooves are made in the beds, the distance between which should be at least 0.2 m. Beet seeds are placed at the bottom of such trenches.

At the stage of two permanent leaves, the crops should be thinned. In the future, it will be necessary to carry out another thinning so that the distance between neighboring seedlings is at least 8 cm.

Although this beet variety is resistant to short periods of drought, in hot, dry summers these vegetable plants should be watered at least once every 3 days, and then loosen the soil around the plants.

The best means for feeding Detroit beets are organic fertilizers: manure, chicken droppings and wood ash. These fertilizers should be applied in the fall. For feeding in the spring, liquid infusions based on these organic matter should be prepared. You can also use complex mineral fertilizers.

Important!

Do not add fresh manure or bird droppings to the crops of this vegetable plant - this can damage the growing root crops.

When planting beets in beds, you should follow the rules of crop rotation. The best predecessors for this vegetable crop are cucumbers, early potatoes, tomatoes or onions.

The soil acidity level should be neutral, since this vegetable plant is sensitive to increased soil acidity and grows worse in such soils. If the soil is too acidic, then chalk or lime should be added to the soil in the fall.

Possible diseases and pests

Detroit beets rarely suffer from fungal diseases. But if the garden bed is crowded in damp, cool weather, it can still become infected with powdery mildew or gray rot.

In both cases, plaque appears on the plant. But in the first it is whitish, powdery, and in the second it is silver-gray, fluffy, with small black inclusions. Gradually, this plaque thickens, the affected tissues rot or dry out, and holes form.

Almost any garden crop can be affected by powdery mildew.

Any fungicide will help to cope with the pathogenic fungus. Both the plants themselves and the soil in the garden bed are sprayed with solutions. But you need to remember that if there is less than a month left before the Detroit beet harvest, you can only use preparations of biological origin.

It is better to pull out and burn beets that are severely affected by gray rot.

The most dangerous pests are:

1. Medvedki. Insects that lead an underground lifestyle, while moving, gnaw holes in root crops or “cut” the roots of seedlings.

   
   Beets damaged by mole crickets are clearly unsuitable for food.

2. Cutworm butterfly caterpillars. They feed very actively on the aboveground part of the plant, leaving only petioles and veins of the leaves within a few days.

   
   Noctuid caterpillars are extremely voracious

To scare mole crickets away from Detroit beet beds, granules of special preparations (for example, Medvetox) are added to the soil during planting. Preventive treatments with any universal insecticides are effective against adults and cutworm caterpillars. They are also used if a pest attack cannot be avoided.

Harvest and storage

At the end of summer - beginning of autumn, the harvest period begins. It is better to collect beetroot in warm, dry weather, when there is no dew and the root crops have been in the sun for some time. This will extend the shelf life of the crop.

Before harvesting beets from the beds, you should pay attention to the condition of the stems - in ripe root crops they dry out and turn yellow.

As a storage location, you should choose a cool, dark room where there is no excess moisture. Beet root vegetables are suitable for storage at a storage temperature of about 2–3 degrees. A common way to store beets is in the cellar along with potatoes. Root vegetables are laid out in several layers on potato tubers, which transfer excess moisture. You can leave the vegetable for the winter in plastic bags with a capacity of 15–20 kg. The bags must be tied and, in case of condensation, opened for a while, leaving a small hole for evaporation.

Reproduction

Beets are planted with seeds or seedlings, but if you plant seedlings, they get sick more often and are more sensitive to temperature fluctuations.

Seed preparation options:

1. Soak the seeds in warm water for a day; the water needs to be replaced 2-3 times. Afterwards the seeds are dried.
2. Place a rag soaked in water in a saucer in two rows. Place 50-100 seeds on it and cover them with another damp cloth. The saucer is placed in a warm place, the air temperature should be 18-25 ° C. The cloths should be damp. After 4 days, the seeds are planted in well-watered soil.
3. Seeds for vernalization are placed in an enamel pan at a depth of 3-4 cm and filled with 50 g of water, and after 32 hours another 50 g is added. Afterwards, the seeds should germinate at a temperature of 15-20 ° C, they are covered with a damp cloth so that it does not touch the and mix it. They are left like this for 2-4 days. Then the seeds are poured into a box in a layer of up to 3 cm and placed in a cold room for 10 days.

• It is necessary to make furrows with a distance of 20-25 cm.
• Seeds are planted every 15 cm.
• Water and cover with 3 cm of soil.
• Then mulch with peat or vermiculite.
• The first shoots appear after 5-6 days at an air temperature of 4-5°C.

It is recommended to mix beet seeds with spinach seeds when sowing, as many weeds can grow that will interfere with the growth of beets. When the first beet shoots appear, the spinach is removed or left for a month. Afterwards it is collected.