The best varieties of fodder beets for the Moscow region open ground. Beet seeds: the best varieties for open ground in the Urals and in the Moscow region

Beetroot is a vegetable crop that has a positive effect on the human body. It contains a huge number of valuable microorganisms: potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C. Young leaves of this plant can be used in cooking in the same way as spinach leaves. The reason is the high content of iron and calcium. But in order to obtain a guaranteed high yield, you need to know which varieties and good crop seeds will perfectly take root in your area in the open field.

How to choose the right beet variety for the Moscow region

The central region is considered one of the most favorable for the growth of beets. When buying seeds, experts recommend paying attention to the following parameters:

1. fruit ripening terms - mid-ripening and late-ripening varieties are suitable for storage, early varieties are excellent for canning and fresh cooking;
2. sugar content in beets - fruits with a lot of sugar are suitable for lovers of sweet taste;
3. shape, size of vegetables;
4. the color of the beets, the presence of rings on the cut;
5. adaptability to local climatic conditions.

Our experts recommend choosing several types of beets for planting in order to get a harvest of fruits with different characteristics and for different purposes. Below is a rating of the best varieties of beets for the Moscow region.

Description of culture

Fodder beets are a biennial crop. In the first year, a thickened root crop and a rosette formed by basal leaves grow. In the second year of growth, flower-bearing shoots appear, giving fruits with seeds.

Description of the plant:

• Roots. They can have a saccular, oval-conical, cylindrical or spherical shape. The average weight is 0.5-2.5 kg. Root crops can have different colors - red, pink, yellow, greenish-white, purple, orange.
• Shoots. In the first year of life, the culture grows a lush rosette of green heart-shaped leaves. The socket height is up to 1 m.
• Inflorescences. On leafy peduncles, paniculate inflorescences grow, in which seeds ripen.

Rating of the best varieties of beets for the Moscow region

The main criteria for the difference between sugar beet and fodder

The main criteria by which sugar beets differ from fodder beets are the following:

• Features of the appearance;
• The course of the vegetative period;
• Chemical composition;
• Yield indicators;
• The purpose and technology of cultivation.

Despite the fact that these cultures have a common origin and are largely similar in appearance, certain differences still exist in them. So that you do not have confusion in these types of culture, we will consider their features in more detail.

The best early varieties of beets for the Moscow region

Bordeaux-237

Rating: 5.0

Our experts have chosen this type of beet for the Moscow region for its simplicity in cultivation. It is considered one of the most productive - from 1 m2 to 8 kg of fruits. Full maturation occurs at 90-113 days.High taste, the presence of a large amount of minerals, vitamins made the species popular among gardeners. The root crop grows to half its size in the soil, making harvesting easier.

According to gardeners' reviews, beets are stored for up to six months without losing their taste and nutritional qualities. Recommended for canning, drying, freezing. Unpretentious to care for, tolerates drought well. It is considered one of the resistant beet species to fungal diseases and insect pests.

Dignity

• high productivity;
• unpretentiousness when growing;
• good resistance to infections;
• simple harvesting;
• high content of nutrients, sugar.

disadvantages

• requires thinning after seed germination.

Red ball

Rating: 4.9

The variety is recognized by our experts as the earliest ripening variety, ripens in 2-2.5 months after germination. Tops the rating of beet varieties that are resistant to high temperatures and lack of moisture. The fruits are round in shape, the color of the skin and pulp is bright red, the rings are not visible on the cut. The moisture content of the beets is high and the consistency is tender.

Consumers in their reviews note the plant's resistance to temperature extremes and flowering. Beets are well kept and have an attractive appearance. For best growth, planting in neutral soil is recommended. The seeds are deepened by 2-4 cm with a distance of 8-10 cm between them. The best time for planting is the end of April and the beginning of May.

Dignity

• early ripening;
• resistance to extreme temperatures;
• attractive commercial qualities;
• lack of rings in the cut;
• no thinning required;
• the possibility of planting before winter.

disadvantages

• demanding on the composition of the soil;
• needs feeding at an early stage of the growing season.

Summer resident

Rating: 4.8

Experts included the cultivar in the ranking of the best because of its increased resistance to diseases. Full maturation occurs 90-100 days after the first shoots. Beets have a smooth surface, round shape, maroon flesh. The mass of the root crop reaches 350 g. There are no rings on the cut. Beetroot fruits are deepened into the ground by 2/3 of their size.

This species is stored until summer, preserving nutrients. Sowing is recommended only in soil with neutral acidity. The planting depth is from 10 to 15 cm. They are planted in furrows every 15-30 cm. The distance between the seeds is maintained at least 7 cm and no more than 10 cm. Consumers in their reviews advise planting the Summer resident in a well-lit place. The plant is responsive to watering, so this should be done moderately and systematically.

Dignity

• high yield - up to 7.1 kg;
• suitable for long-term storage;
• juicy fruits;
• resistant to diseases typical of vegetable crops.

disadvantages

• picky about the quality of the soil.

Akela

Rating: 4.7

The vegetable has been selected by experts as one of the best industrial varieties. Full maturity of beets occurs at 90-115 days. Mechanized harvesting is preferred. The beets are round in shape, bright red in color, there are no light rings. The root crop is resistant to extreme temperatures, easily tolerates drought. When planted late, they are used for long-term storage.

Consumers in their reviews pay attention to the high yield of the root crop, excellent taste. Up to 5 kg of vegetables are harvested from 1 m2. They are large, reaching 350 g, the flesh is dense. Recommended for fresh, processed form. The ideal time for sowing seeds is the month of May. The tops are dark, powerful.

Dignity

• high productivity;
• resistance to color;
• suitability for industrial cultivation;
• mechanized harvesting is allowed;
• good taste parameters.

disadvantages

• requires feeding after germination.

Gribovskaya flat

Rating: 4.6

The experts included the variety in the rating of the best for its resistance to low temperatures. Grown for early eating, winter harvesting. Resistance to flowering is noted. The size of the beets is small, the shape is flat. By weight, the vegetable reaches 400 g. The skin is dark red. The pulp is bluish-purple. Consumers speak well of the taste of beets. They note juiciness, delicate texture. Submerging the vegetable halfway into the soil makes harvesting easier. It takes 100 days to fully mature. Pleases beets with a yield - up to 8.3 kg per 1 m2. It is characterized by resistance to cercospora.

Dignity

• frost resistance;
• high productivity;
• good keeping quality;
• early ripening;
• pleasant taste;
• easy harvesting.

disadvantages

• yields a high yield only on loamy and clay soils.

Popular late beets

Citadel

Weakly leafy plant with a vegetation period of 125-130 days. The root crop is formed in a cylindrical shape with a length of about 26 cm, weighing 360-420 grams. The red pulp has no rings.

Matron Zedek

Vegetation lasts 115-125 days. The culture forms friendly shoots and ripens up to 250-500 gr. The round-shaped vegetable is distinguished by its high taste characteristics, a long storage period, and resistance to a humid environment.

Beet seed bolivar

Single-sprout variety

Beet Matrona Zedek

One-sprout

When shoots are formed, it gives one sprout, which facilitates thinning of the beds. A round dark cherry root crop ripens in 120-130 days, reaching a weight of 280-350 grams. The plant is resistant to various diseases, pests, withstands adverse weather conditions. The crop is easily harvested due to the shallow immersion of the vegetable in the soil.

Ruby red

Used for all types of processing. Harvesting begins 100-120 days after sprouting. Round beets are usually small in size, weighing 240 grams.

Feature: cooks quickly.

Bolivar

The variety was bred by Dutch breeders. The growing season is 95-115 days. Fruits are round, small in size, weighing up to 230 gr. The pulp has an intense red color, without annular borders. The plant is cold-resistant, tolerates drought and a humid environment.

The best mid-season beet varieties for the Moscow region

Detroit

Rating: 5.0

Our experts included this type of beet in the rating of the best for its high yield. Vegetables weigh on average 180-200 g. From each hundred square meters, you can collect up to 500 kg of root crops. It is considered one of the most unpretentious types of beets, easily tolerates light frosts. Suitable for planting before winter, it is distinguished by friendly shoots. Resistant to many diseases. The shape of the beets is round, the color of the peel and pulp is burgundy, there are no light rings.

Consumers note the amazing taste of the vegetable. Ideal for fresh consumption. A delicious broth, juice is obtained from it. Suitable for canning for the winter. Due to its high sugar and dry matter content, the vegetable is recommended for long-term storage without loss of taste and benefits.

Dignity

• high productivity;
• unpretentious care;
• allowed for disembarkation before winter;
• disease resistant;
• pleasant taste;
• suitable for long-term storage.

disadvantages

• does not tolerate drafts.

Bravo

Rating: 4.9

Deservedly appreciated by our experts due to its high keeping quality. The variety is high-yielding. Up to 9 kg of dark red round beets are harvested from 1 m2. One vegetable reaches 780 g. The skin of the root crop is smooth, dense. The taste is assessed as good. Sugar content 14%. At ¾ of its size, the vegetable is submerged in the soil. The rings are white on the cut are absent.

Gardeners characterize beets as one of the juiciest and most tender species. Used for cooking borscht, salads. Stored well, transported over long distances. Resistant to cercospora.Recommended for dietetic food for gastrointestinal diseases, anemia.

Dignity

• keeps well without losing nutritional value;
• high productivity;
• good taste parameters;
• rich in minerals and vitamins;
• lack of light rings in the pulp.

disadvantages

• affected by beet midges.

Cylinder

Rating: 4.8

In the rating of the best varieties, our experts included the variety for its high yield. When planted on a separate bed, gardeners collect up to 10 kg from 1 m2. This is higher than Detroit and Bravo. Adapted to different climatic conditions. In the Moscow region, it is planted with seeds in early May. In cool climates, planting of seedlings is allowed. It resembles a cylinder in shape, for which it got its name. Its diameter is 70 mm, length is 150-170 mm. Vegetable weight reaches 600 g.

It is appreciated by consumers for the high cooking speed of whole fruits, in contrast to other similar types. Due to the fruit rising above the soil surface, harvesting is facilitated. Reviews of gardeners speak about the pleasant taste of beets, suitability for all processing methods. The harvest is stored until next spring. It tolerates transportation well.

Dignity

• high yield;
• good consumer qualities;
• long-term storage;
• suitable for different climatic zones;
• can be used as a soil-compaction crop.

disadvantages

• primary thinning is necessary.

Bona

Rating: 4.7

In the rating of the best, our experts have identified the Bona variety for its excellent keeping quality. The root crop is stored until May. Technical ripeness occurs 4 months after germination. The shape of the vegetable is round, the color of the skin is red, the pulp is darker, there are no rings. The consistency is tender, juicy. Fruit weight up to 300 g. From 1 m2, up to 7 kg of root crops are harvested.

In the reviews, gardeners note the high taste characteristics of the variety, its delicate, sweet and juicy pulp. The root crop is suitable for canning, fresh consumption, long-term storage, transportation. The fruits are aligned in size. The variety is resistant to many diseases. Seed germination is high and friendly.

Dignity

• suitable for long-term storage;
• consumed fresh, canned;
• root crops even in size;
• lack of rings in the cut;
• high taste parameters.

disadvantages

• planting requires a sunny area of ​​the garden.

Valenta

Rating: 4.6

In the opinion of our experts, the variety favorably differs by its increased single-seededness. The seedlings are friendly, the fruits grow even in size and the same shape. The color of the pulp is dark red, the surface is even and smooth. The weight of one fruit reaches 330 g. Due to the rise of root crops above the soil surface, they are easily pulled out during harvesting. The variety is resistant to low temperatures, but with a prolonged lack of heat, the yield drops sharply.

Gardeners' reviews indicate the growing popularity of the variety. This is facilitated by the presence in the fruits of a high content of vitamins of group B, PP. Regular inclusion of the Valenta variety in the diet helps to stabilize blood pressure and lower cholesterol.

Dignity

• pronounced single-seededness;
• suitability for use in any form;
• ease of harvesting;
• increased content of vitamins in fruits;
• high productivity.

disadvantages

• drop in yield with prolonged absence of heat.

Growing

In order to harvest a decent harvest of fodder beets, they should be properly planted in open ground. The first thing that needs to be done to grow beets for animal feed is not to be mistaken with the choice of the site. It should be level, without stones and sufficiently lit. In no case should there be trees and bushes near the planting site that can shade it. For the rest, fodder beets are not too whimsical to the neighborhood. It can be planted next to other plants.

Fodder beets are usually planted in the field, not in the garden

Beet Cylinder

Despite the general unpretentiousness of the plant to the soil, the right choice is to grow the crop in neutral or slightly acidic soil.

In terms of crop rotation, fodder beets are best planted after any crops, peas or corn.

Site preparation

The plot should be prepared for sowing in advance, in the fall. It is dug up, weeds are removed and fertilizers are applied (as a rule, organic matter).

Important! It is better not to use fresh manure for fertilizing fodder beets - it contributes to soil acidification.

When spring comes, it will be necessary to re-plow the area with parallel fertilization. The soil should be moist and loose when ready to plant. Large clods of earth must not be allowed.

Planting of forage crops is carried out in early spring, from late March to mid-April, depending on the region. The main condition is that the earth must have time to warm up to an average of 5 degrees to a depth of 10 m.

On a note. Some gardeners use a special lunar calendar to determine favorable dates for planting fodder beets.

Landing

Seedlings for planting fodder beets are practically not used. Seeds are used, which is not difficult to buy.

Before you start sowing seeds, they must be washed with any disinfectant solution, for example, potassium permanganate. This product helps to eliminate fungi, viruses and bacteria. It will not be superfluous to process the planting material and some kind of growth stimulant.

After seed treatment, grooves should be cut into beds at a distance of about 60 cm from one another. This distance will be enough to provide the plant with the necessary care and normal growth.

Like the sugar species, fodder beets should not be planted too often, to a depth of 3 cm. In order for the seeds to sprout quickly and without problems, it is additionally recommended to spill the rows with water and place the planting material in moist soil. Sprinkle the seeds on top with earth.

Specialized agricultural machinery is often used to plant fodder beets.

If the planting is done correctly, you can expect that the sprouts will appear in two weeks.

Important! Seedlings should be protected from severe frosts, despite the general cold resistance of the culture - the plant may die.

After planting, the grooves should be mulched with wood ash with the addition of mineral fertilizers. In the future, special care of the culture will not be required. It is enough just to regularly weed, water. A month before harvesting, watering should be almost completely stopped to avoid cracking of the root crop. A cracked crop will not only look bad, but it will also be worse in storage. To avoid rotting of the root crop, it will need to be fed to livestock as quickly as possible.

When and how to harvest

Closer to September, fodder beets stop producing new leaves. At the same time, the old ones begin to periodically turn yellow and die off. The growth of root crops also stops by autumn. It is at this time that it is important not to water the plant.

Harvesting of fodder beets is carried out before the onset of the first frost, approximately in the first decade of October. If an insignificant decrease in temperature, on average to -2C, the plant will be able to withstand, but it is not a fact that the frozen root crop can be stored for a long time.

Harvesting should be done by digging a little with a shovel or pitchfork. If storage is planned for a long-term, you should thoroughly clean the fodder vegetable from adhering soil and cut off the remains of the tops. Those root crops that were damaged during the assembly process should be fed to livestock first.

Harvesting fodder beets is usually a large-scale event

Storage of fodder beets should be carried out at temperatures from +3 to +5 degrees. Earthen pits, cellars and cellars are ideal for this purpose.

In winter, the culture will become a real help in feeding livestock.

Diseases and pests

Fodder beets, like ordinary sugar beets, are susceptible to a number of diseases and pests during the growing season.

Beets are susceptible to various pests and diseases

Both the first and the second cause significant damage to the culture. There are two main methods used in pest control:

• preventive;
• fighter.

The difference between the two is obvious. Preventive methods include crop rotation during crop rotation, selection of healthy mother plants, cleaning crops from infected plants, seed dressing, timely removal of weeds, etc.

Extermination measures are mainly reduced to treatment with chemicals - pesticides. They should be used with great care, strictly adhering to the dosage and timing. The last treatment of plants must be carried out no later than 20 days before the start of the harvest.

Most often, beets are affected by the following pests and diseases.

Corneed

It is caused by soil fungi and infects beet seedlings. Most often, the disease develops on acidic soils. The infection persists in the soil for a long time, and is transmitted with seeds. The manifestation of the disease is browning, as well as decay. In order not to open access to infection, it is recommended to liming the soil and introduce boron before sowing. It will be quite effective to pickle seeds with fentiuram at the rate of 4 g per 1 kg of seeds.

Beet flea

The beetroot flea is a fairly common parasite, which is a black beetle with a green or bronze tint. The harmful insect hibernates in the beetle stage and infects the plant in spring, as soon as the temperature begins to exceed 8 degrees. In hot and windy weather, the harm from the insect is especially great, the flea eats holes in the plant. As a result, the damaged leaves dry out over time.

The easiest way to deal with the pest is during its hibernation, directly in the wintering grounds. They are pollinated with dust. When planting in the holes along with fertilizers, it will be effective to add hexachloran as a preventive measure.

Beet flea

Beet weevil

Wherever the plant grows: in a southern climate, near the city of Moscow or in the northern regions, it remains susceptible to the attack of the beet weevil - a beetle with a grayish-brown color.

The bugs mainly damage the leaves, but they can also gnaw through the lateral roots and gnaw elongated passages in the roots. All this negatively affects the plant and worsens the yield.

In places of mass destruction of weevils, a system of trapping grooves is used every 5 meters, the bottom of which is sprinkled with HCH. In addition, it is very effective to treat with heptachlor before sowing.

Beet aphid

This parasite is of two types: wingless and winged. Aphids affect foliage, which begins to curl and stagnate. Peduncles, damaged by aphids, begin to dry out, the fill crumbles. All this inevitably leads to a decrease in seed yield.

Spraying with nicotine or anabasine is especially effective against beet aphids.

Beet aphid

Beet miner fly

This parasite infects the testes as well as first-year plants. The harmful insect hibernates usually in the soil in the form of a pupa. Flies begin to fly towards the end of May. They lay eggs on the underside of leaves in rows of several. Literally a few days later, larvae hatch from the eggs, which penetrate into the pulp of the leaf and feed on it. As a result, swollen spots (mines) begin to appear on the leaves. Damaged leaves dry out over time.Larvae of the second generation appear in August, and the third in September. So the gardener has to deal with them throughout the growing season.

It is possible to destroy the beet miner fly not only through careful autumn plowing in order to destroy pupae. As the larvae appear, the plants are strongly recommended to be treated with chloroform and dust.

The best late-ripening beet varieties for the Moscow region

Slav

Rating: 5.0

Our experts considered this variety to be one of the best in taste. The fruits are juicy, tender, cylindrical in shape. Their color is deep burgundy. The skin is smooth, easy to remove during processing. The pulp is tender without pronounced light rings. Vegetables reach 15 cm in length, and the weight of one root crop is about 300 g. The fruits ripen fully in 125 days.

Consumers appreciate the variety for its versatile culinary suitability. Root vegetables are good fresh, suitable for conservation and drying. The high moisture content allows for an excellent juice. Beets are stored for a long time. Rarely exposed to disease. It goes deeper into the soil by a third, which makes harvesting easier. Collect up to 7 kg from 1m2.

Dignity

• high taste parameters;
• high sugar content;
• versatile for cooking;
• stored for a long time;
• well transported;
• has good immunity.

disadvantages

• long growing season.

Winter

Rating: 4.9

The variety was included in the rating of the best by experts for its increased resistance to low temperatures. Recommended for planting in early spring and late autumn before winter. It is considered to be relatively resistant to flowering. Roughness is observed on the surface of the fruit. The vegetable is small in size, reaching 360 g. The shape is round. The root crop is sunk into the ground by 2/3 of the size.

The dark red pulp and excellent taste allow using the variety for cooking borscht, salads, preservation Users speak perfectly about the high keeping quality of the variety, good yield. Up to 6.5 kg of fruits are removed from 1 m2.

Dignity

• cold resistance;
• high keeping quality;
• good taste;
• ease of care;
• retains a bright color during cooking;
• versatility of the use of fruits.

disadvantages

• does not tolerate spring flooding of the soil.

Renova

Rating: 4.8

One of the mildest beet varieties according to our experts. In the conditions of the Moscow region, a stable harvest is collected, which can be stored until May. The shape of the fruit is cylindrical, good, boils quickly. The core is dense, there are no light rings. Ripening of vegetables is amicable, the size of the fruits is the same. There is no pronounced smell of beets.

Gardeners pay attention to the excellent taste of the vegetable. Its dark red flesh is tender and juicy. The weight of one beet reaches 350 g. The skin is thin. The growing process is simple and not time consuming. By the time of ripeness, the fruits are practically on the surface, so it is easy to extract their soil. The variety easily tolerates low temperatures.

Dignity

• excellent keeping quality;
• good productivity;
• lack of rings in the cut;
• evenness of root crops;
• high taste parameters;
• cold resistance.

disadvantages

• long ripening period.

Larka

Rating: 4.7

Experts included the variety in the rating of the best for its high resistance to flowering. This is considered a guarantee of good beet taste. Recommended for growing in private gardens and farms. Fruits are smooth, round, deep red in color. The size is relatively small, the weight of the vegetable reaches 300 g. Whitish rings are slightly noticeable in the cut. The fruit is slightly corky.

According to reviews, the variety is considered high-yielding and reaches 6.5 kg per 1 m2. Users note the suitability of beets for long-term storage. The fruits are used for processing. Root crops can easily be transported over long distances.We found that eating this variety helps to remove salts of heavy metals from the body, decay products after radioactive exposure.

Dignity

• high resistance to flowering;
• mechanized harvesting is allowed;
• suitable for long-term storage;
• has antioxidant properties;
• has a beautiful spherical shape.

disadvantages

• the presence of whitish rings;
• corking is present on the surface.

Mona

Rating: 4.6

The best single-sprout beet variety according to our experts. The shape is cylindrical, but it is only 1/3 deep in the soil, so harvesting is easy. It does not need thinning, so the fruits are formed in a short time, grow together and are about the same size. The yield of the variety is consistently high and reaches 7 kg per 1 m2. The mass of one root crop is from 200 to 350 g.

Consumers appreciate the vegetable for its optimal size for processing, excellent taste. They note the juiciness and tenderness of the root crop. The dark red color is preserved during cooking, which is important for the preparation of salads, borscht. Used beets for winter harvesting, stored well, does not require special conditions.

Dignity

• one sprout;
• excellent taste;
• attractive appearance;
• good keeping quality;
• consistently high yield;
• suitability for different types of workpieces.

Harvesting and storage

In order for the roots to be stored for a long time and not to deteriorate, it is necessary to remove them in time, as well as create favorable storage conditions.

Recommendations:

• Cleaning is finished before frost.
• Root crops are dried, the tops are cut off and the stuck earth is removed.
• Root crops are stored in well-ventilated cellars, in clean containers. The temperature is maintained at + 2 ... + 4 ° C.
• Beets can also be stored in piles - large piles. The width of the piles is 3 m, the length is 25 m, the height is 1.5 m. Straw and earth are placed on top of the root crops with a layer of at least 60 cm.