Beets require cool temperatures and a loose, moist soil for best production.

An adequate supply of potash in the soil is necessary for roots to form. Soil test before planting. Beets do not tolerate acid soils. Beets are shallow rooted, so never let soil dry completely. Because they require cool temperatures, you can grow beets in spring and fall.

Most beet seeds produce a small cluster of seedlings when they germinate. Even with individually placed seeds, thinning is necessary for correct plant spacing. Thin seedlings to stand 2 inches apart. Beet seeds are slow to germinate, so mix in some radish seeds to mark the row. Poor stands of seedlings can often be traced to planting too deep or crusting soils after rain or irrigation.

Black spots in beets may indicate a shortage of boron in light textured, sandy soil. Dissolve 1 level tablespoon of household borax in 3 gallons of water and apply it to 100 feet of garden row as a corrective measure. Reduce the amount of borax for shorter rows, since too much boron can be toxic to plants.

Do not discard beet leaves; they are an excellent leafy green. You can also use the thinnings of young beets as greens. Beets require 60 to 70 days from planting to harvest . Harvested beets can be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for several weeks. A variety with golden roots is available.

Varieties

*Burpee's Red Ball -- uniform, smooth-skinned, globe shaped, 3-inch dark red roots, tops erect, medium tall, red and green.

*Cylindra -- long cylindrical root that gives uniform slices, dark red, 6 inches long, leaves excellent as greens.

*Detroit Dark Red -- an old standard variety, globe shaped, smooth, uniform, deep red color.

*Ruby Queen -- uniform, smooth, round with fine taproot, superior quality, fine for canning, small crown, AAS 1957.