HW TO GROW BEETROOTS

By Emmanuel Kapambwe

Beetroot is generally easy to grow and is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 vegetables grown in home gardens. Known for their health benefits, beetroots also known Betavulgaris ssp. Vulgaris are largely grown in countries like Germany, France, European countries, Africa, Asia, and South America. 

In Africa, countries like Uganda, South Africa and Zambia among others, beetroots are most appreciated and grown for their health benefits among which stand out is ability to boost blood levels and its richness in vitamin C, folate, potassium, manganese, iron, and fiber. It is a vegetable which is oftentimes a recommended remedy by Doctors for patients with blood shortage.

Soil Requirements

To grow beetroots, one need’s to undertake certain requirements into account, just like any other crop, beetroots need certain weather conditions for one to have a successful harvest. To a plant beetroot seed, you must first soak the seeds for at least 24hrs to separate the seeds. When planting a beetroot, the needed depth is approximately a third of the seed’s diameter with soil temperatures of around 7⁰ c and 25⁰ c, with plant spacing of 20-30cm apart.

Beetroot are particularly fond of neutral, moist, fertile soil without too much lime or acidity (pH 6.5-7.0). They need a soil pH of 6.0to 6.8 for optimum growth. Beets can also tolerate a slighter higher pH, but no more than 7.0 with preferably soft soil and less of clay and sand.

However, because the roots develop at the surface, there have been instances of tolerance of clay soil due to the loosened top of the plant by the addition of lots of well-rotted organic matter. To sow the seeds, it is imperative to make sure that any type of weeds or debris that might hinder root growth are removed, the soil only needs preparation to one spade blade of depth. Roughly level the area and rake over the top to loosen it. Positioning is also vital as it needs to be sunny and open. Beetroots are also known to be compatible with other vegetables like onions, lettuce or cabbage, and can be ready for harvesting in 55-70 (7-10 weeks).

Varieties

There are three types of beetroots with the most common being red beetroot which is widely grown and consumed as a vegetable, but Within thistype of beetroot, there three more types according to their shape and size; elongate, intermediate and spherical. The other types include sugar beet also known varaltissima, which is white in color and the other being mangelwurzel also calledvar. alba which is widely used as cattle food.

Beetroots consist mainly of water (87%) with carbs of up to (8%).One boiled beetroot has less than 60 calories compared to a raw beet which boasts of more nutrients and comprises of 88% water, Protein 1.6grams, Carbs 9.6 grams, Sugar 6.8 grams, Fiber 2.8 grams and Fat at 0.2 grams.

Although beetroots are not commonly grown on large scales, most families in Zambia have resorted to growing them for personal use in their backyards as opposed to buying from local supermarkets.

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