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General Information	Beetroot Troubles
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Beetroot
Sowing Time	Planting Time	Soil	Spacing	Cutting / Lifting Time	Storage	Cooking
Sow rows at monthly intervals. Can be eaten all year straight from the garden from June to late Autumn or from Store until March or pickled for use all year. Slow to start but rapid once seedlings are established. Harvest before they become too big and woody. Sow two seeds together and remove one when about 1ins high. Protect against birds. Keep an eye on weeds and don't allow to dry out. Pull alternative roots when small and allow the others to mature.
Early March under glass or mid March outside until the end of July	n/a	Any reasonable soil which has been well prepared.	4 inches apart and 12 inches between rows	Mid May to mid November	Roots to be stored should be lifted in October. Shake off soil and discard any that are damaged. Place in dry compost. Will keep in a food bag in the fridge for up to two weeks.	Wash the beets in cold water. Do not remove leaves, root or skin. Boil for 1-2 hours in salted water until tender. Remove the skin. Allow to cool before pickling. Leaves can be cooked as Spinach.

Beetroot Troubles
Trouble	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention
Black Leg	Seedlings turn black and shrivel	Remove diseased plants and water remainder with Cheshunt Compound	Sow thinly in well drained soil
Bolting	Run to seed before roots develop	None	Grow resistant varieties, don't allow to dry out and thin seedlings as soon as possible
Fanging	Forked Roots	None	Do not add fresh manure to the soil to close to sowing and ensure the soil is stone free and well prepared
Heart Rot	Leaves wilt and brown, sunken patches on the tops of roots.	Spray repeatedly	If soil is Boron deficient add borax
Leaf Spot	Brown spots on leaves. Leaves disfigures but does not affect the crop.	None	Rotate crops
Mangold Fly (Leaf Miner)	Small white grubs burrow into leaves causing blisters.	Destroy affected leaves and spray	None
Speckled Yellows	Yellow patches between veins of leaves. Leaf edges roll inwards.	Caused by manganese deficiency so apply sequestered compound	Do not over lime the soil

General Information	Beetroot Troubles
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