Rules and nuances of watering beets: a step-by-step guide for beginner vegetable growers

Beets are an unpretentious vegetable crop, but they need proper and timely watering. For example, frequent irrigation leads to rotting of the plant, and rare - to deformation and immature fruits.

How often to water the beets, whether you need to follow a certain scheme, what other nuances are there - let's figure it out in the article.

How to properly water beets outdoors

How to water beets? This question interests many novice summer residents. First of all, take into account the time, frequency and abundance of irrigation.

Time, frequency and amount of watering

Since beets are able to store liquid, they do not need frequent watering. Severe waterlogging of the soil harms the root crop - it rots or gets sick.

Beets outdoors are watered once a week, preferably in the evening... So the moisture will go into the soil, which will provide nutrition for the root crops. About 15-20 liters of water is used per square meter, depending on the weather. The hotter it is, the more water is lost.

Reference. Adult plants can do without watering for two weeks. But this is an extreme - do not forget about timely irrigation.

Irrigation methods

There are three ways to water beets: manual, drip and sprinkler.

Manual way of watering

Manual watering is a simple method, it is humidification with a watering can or a hose.

Watering can... When watering from a watering can, make sure that the irrigation is uniform. This also applies to the water pressure. The strong jet damages seedlings and erodes the soil. To prevent this, use special nozzles. The watering can is suitable for a small area.

Hose... When watering with a hose, special nozzles are also used, which will not allow the soil to wash out and damage the sprouts. This method allows you to moisten a larger area.

Drip irrigation

Drip irrigation is used if it is necessary to cover a large area... Water is supplied to the roots of plants individually through special pipes or hoses with holes.

Important! Choose pipes that can withstand high water pressure. Otherwise they won't last long.

This method is costly.

Sprinkling

Sprinkling is also used to irrigate beets. Drops that fall on the tops do not harm the plant.

In this case, the site is equipped with water sprinklers. The soil becomes evenly moistened, does not require loosening after watering. This method is also costly and suitable for a large area.

Water requirements

Water for irrigation of beets should be settled, temperature + 16 ... + 23 ° С... Tap water contains chlorine, so it is defended for 24 hours before watering. Well and artesian water is also suitable for irrigation after settling.

Reference. To prevent water from stagnating in the hole, small holes are made in the ground near the plant.

Watering features

Depending on the growing season, beets need different frequency and volume of watering... Weather conditions also affect the abundance of irrigation. If watering at one of these stages was incorrect, this affects the taste of the root crop.

It can be useful:

We grow table beets: from variety selection to harvest

Instructions for planting beets in the spring in open ground

How to plant beets in the winter

Depending on the period

Landing... Before how to plant seeds, the ground is well watered. After planting, the beets are irrigated once a week. If the weather is hot, then the frequency of watering is increased. For 1 sq. m use 3-4 liters of water. At this stage, it is not necessary to irrigate the ground too much, water it as it dries.

Flowering and the appearance of the first shoots... When the first shoots have appeared, they begin to water the beets 2-3 times a week, depending on weather conditions. For 1 sq. m use about 10 liters of water. This is continued until the shoots reach a height of 15 cm and the first leaves appear on them. After that, the frequency of watering the plant is once a week.

Fruit formation... Root crops are watered once every 7-10 days. The volume of water is increased to 15 liters per 1 sq. m, hot days - up to 20 liters of water.

After feeding... At every stage of development, the plant needs feeding. These can be mineral and organic solutions containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. For root feeding, the solution is poured directly under the root, for foliar feeding, the leaves are irrigated.

When the plant has 4-5 leaves, beets are fertilized with boric acid - the leaves are sprayed with a solution. For this, 4 g of boric acid are dissolved in 10 liters of water. With a lack of boron, fomoz develops, the core of the root crop rots.

Depending on the month

In the second half of May beet seeds are planted in the soil - the ground is watered before and after planting.

In June beets are watered once a week. Use 10-15 liters of water per 1 sq. m.

Important! The first month of the growing season is especially important: if the plant does not receive enough moisture, it will stop developing.

In July - in the first half of August, the plant is watered 1-2 times a week. During this period, abundant watering is needed, since the root crop eats already at a depth of more than 15 cm. m use two buckets of water.

Mid or late August watering is stopped so that the fruits are formed and become juicy.

Depending on weather conditions

Climatic conditions directly affect the frequency of watering beets:

1. Heat. In hot weather, the frequency of watering is doubled. The plant is irrigated every 3-5 days. Water is consumed more. If the norm is 15 liters, then in hot weather 20 liters are used per 1 sq. m. However, do not overfill.
2. Rain. In conditions of heavy rains, beets do not need frequent watering.
3. In cold weather, beets are watered only in the morning and lunch hours. Watering frequency depends on the degree of soil drying.

When to stop watering

Watering root crops stop 3-4 weeks before harvest.

If you continue to water the beets, then the fruits will not be able to form and accumulate sugar, they will become sick and tasteless.

How to learn to determine the moisture requirement of beets

Each gardener decides for himself whether the root crop needs irrigation or not. The needs of the crop depend on the appearance of the plant and the soil itself - it should be moist, but not wet.

Use your finger to check the depth of the moistened layer of the earth in several places: if the ground is 5 cm deep, then there is no need for watering.

The second way is with a shovel... They stick it into the ground next to the root crop: if there is adhering dirt on the shovel, moistening is not required.

Read also:

How to thin out beets correctly: the stages of the manipulation

Is it possible to pick off the leaves of beets during growth

Tips and tricks from experienced summer residents

People with experience recommend to follow the following rules:

1. You don't need to water the plants a little every day - the roots don't get enough moisture. The liquid evaporates quickly from the surface, and the beets do not absorb it.
2. The first nutritional supplement is applied two days after sowing. Dissolve two glasses of wood ash in a bucket of warm water. Insist for three hours and water the culture with this solution. Top dressing will deliver nutrients directly to the plant root.
3. Water is poured into the garden itself.Make sure that it does not spread over the tops - this way, water will get into the ground, and you will prevent the appearance of fungal infections.
4. To increase the sugar concentration in the root crop, beets are watered with table salt and boric acid in June and August. During salt procedures (a tablespoon of salt without a slide for 10 liters of water), plants are also fed with fertilizers with potassium.
5. If the soil on the site is acidic, one watering is carried out per season with a lime content. At this point, the plant should have formed at least four leaves. For 12 liters of water, 250 g of lime is used. Top dressing is applied strictly at the root, without dripping onto the tops.

Conclusion

Beets need rare but abundant watering. Frequent irrigation leads to rotting and death of the root crop. Water the beets depending on the period and weather conditions, but always with warm and settled water.

According to the area of ​​the site, one of three methods is chosen: manual irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkling. 3-4 weeks before harvesting, watering the beets is stopped so that it becomes juicy.