Growing at the Speed of Life - A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden

Beets and Beet Greens

Height: 6–1 2 "

Width: 4–6"

Depth: 2 4–6 0 "

Annual/Cool Season
Wat e r : Overhead, regular; to keep leaves crisp
Sun : Partial shade
Companion Planting :
pro: Bush beans, cabbage, leeks, lettuce, onions, radishes
con: Mustard, pole beans
Pests : Beet leafhoppers, webworms, weevils, fl ea
beetles
Diseases : Leaf spot, scab
Soil: Light loam, well drained, free of stones
Fertilizer: Ample manure/compost, 9 inches down;
fish emulsion when leaves are 6 inches high

pH: 6.5–7.5

Varieties : Red Ace, Chioggia (candy striped), Golden

(yellow), Crosby Eg yptian

Zones : 5–10

Planting : Seed ¼–½ inch deep, 2–4 weeks before last

frost; thin seedlings 4–6 inches apart

Germinate: 4–10 days, then every 2–3 weeks for suc­

cessive planting until midsummer

Blooms : 2nd year

Harvest: 49–91 days

Rotation: Avoid following spinach or chard

Edible: Roots and leaf greens

BEETS AND BEET GREENS • 85