When to dig up beets: how to store the crop

Root vegetables are good because they are perfectly stored throughout the winter and slowly lose their nutritional properties. And a vegetable like beets is certainly no exception.

But experienced gardeners warn that only properly harvested beets are well stored. OBOZ.UA tells you how to do it without mistakes and get a good harvest.

When is the harvest time usually

Although it is important to take into account climate, weather, soil, and many other factors, the main thing that determines the time of harvesting beets is their variety. More precisely, the ripening time it has.

For example, early-ripening red root crops need 50-80 days from the moment of germination to gain the necessary qualities. They are usually harvested starting in late July.

Medium-sized varieties take 80-100 days to ripen. Accordingly, they are harvested a month later, at the end of August.

And finally, late beet varieties take 100 to 135 days to ripen. The harvesting period for them is September-October.

How to tell when beets are ripe

Pay attention to whether the tops of the root crop are visible. When they begin to peek out of the ground, you can consider the beets ready for consumption.

Another telling sign is the condition of the plant's lower leaves. If they begin to turn yellow and dry, it means that the fruit is ready to be harvested.

How to properly dig up beets

Choose a dry day to harvest beets. It is even better if the weather is sunny. You can use a shovel to dig up the fruit, but the best tool is a pitchfork. They are less likely to damage the root crop.

Digging under the plant is done from the side. At the same time, hold the tops with your hands. After that, the beets are carefully pulled out of the ground and shaken off gently, but not too thoroughly.

The harvested fruits should be spread out on the bed to dry. After that, they are cleaned of dirt and the tops are cut off. The beets are ready to be stored.

How to store harvested beets

The harvest is first sorted. Anything damaged or diseased is removed. Beets of questionable quality should be eaten as soon as possible.

But high-quality fruits are put in air-permeable boxes or nets and sent to a dark, cool room. From time to time, the crop is checked for sprouts or any damage.

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