Beets

Here are my tips for growing great beets:

Site, soil type:	Beets tolerate low fertility. Plant in loose soil so bulb and taproot can grow freely. Beets can be grown in full sun or partial shade.
Planting requirements	Plant ¼ inch deep. Beets germinate at 45 degrees, but 55-70 degrees are best for quick germination and growth. They tolerate light frost. Seeds may actually be pods. Many plants may germinate from each seed and they will need to be thinned.
Nutrition/Fertilizer needs	Beets are a light feeder, meaning they only need supplemental fertilizer in poor soil. Being a root vegetable, they need phosphorus and potassium, and smaller amounts of nitrogen.
Water needs	Beets needs consistent moisture. Keep well watered to prevent scab.
Other tips	Competition and uneven watering makes beets stringy and tough. Corky black areas in roots are a sign of a boron deficiency, A potassium deficiency is evidenced by elongated rather than bulb roots – correct with a side dressing of wood ashes or compost. Beets are quite resistant to insects and diseases.

Insect Invasion?

Squash bugs? Cucumber beetles? Squash vine borers? Root maggots? Flea beetles? Cabbage worms? This product will help: Summerweight Garden Fabric 6' x 20' It also will help keep the rabbits and deer from munching your goodies.

Learn how to Improve your vegetables’ flavor

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A Great Hose…

I love my expandable garden hose! It's lightweight and easily moves around the garden with me. It doesn't get kinked or tangled. Hoses can be such a pain, even the ones that say they won't kink. And they are heavy and bulky and bothersome to wind up to make the garden neat. Not this one. Recoiling it is a breeze!
Find this hose here at Amazon.com.

Vinegar Kills Weeds!

Many gardeners report success with regular household vinegar. It has 5% acetic acid and 95% water. But for an even more effective weapon, vinegar with 20% acetic acid is sold as a non-toxic herbicide. I recommend experimenting with diluting the 20% vinegar to make it last longer. University studies say that 10-20% vinegar is effective. Vinegar is a quick-acting, non-selective contact herbicide and its residues degrade promptly in the soil. Foliar contact results in rapid dehydration of annual weeds and grasses, and top growth reduction of herbaceous perennial weeds and grasses. 20% vinegar may be applied up to two days before harvest. Find 20% vinegar here. 20% vinegar is non-food grade and is strong. Read application instructions carefully.

Critter Ridder

A motion-activated sprinkler WORKS to keep deer, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, dogs, and cats out of your garden. These sprinklers give a strong blast of water that lasts for 15 seconds. They have a sensor with night only, day only, and always on activation modes. One user says “My experience is that the sound of the sprinkler, and the sound of the water suddenly hitting plants startles and scares away the animals. It doesn't matter if the spray is aimed to actually hit the animal.” Here is a YouTube video of this action. At Amazon, you can find the Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler. It works well to detect and surprise encroaching critters.

Row cover for cold protection

Floating row cover is a lightweight blanket for your plants. It’s an easy way to extend your growing season. With row cover, your seeds will germinate faster and the plants will get off to a better start. The highest quality of row cover I’ve found is called Agribon. Agribon is made in several different weights. Agribon 19 offers several degrees of frost protection. I have had 12-15 degrees of protection with this product. Agribon 19 also allows 85% of light transmission. This product is for sale at Amazon.

Grow Great Vegetables

Tips, Tricks and Tools!

Beets

Here are my tips for growing great beets:

Site, soil type:

Beets tolerate low fertility.

Plant in loose soil so bulb and taproot can grow freely.

Beets can be grown in full sun or partial shade.

Planting requirements

Plant ¼ inch deep.

Beets germinate at 45 degrees, but 55-70 degrees are best for quick germination and growth.

They tolerate light frost.

Seeds may actually be pods. Many plants may germinate from each seed and they will need to be thinned.

Nutrition/Fertilizer needs

Beets are a light feeder, meaning they only need supplemental fertilizer in poor soil.

Being a root vegetable, they need phosphorus and potassium, and smaller amounts of nitrogen.

Water needs

Beets needs consistent moisture. Keep well watered to prevent scab.

Other tips

Competition and uneven watering makes beets stringy and tough.

Corky black areas in roots are a sign of a boron deficiency,

A potassium deficiency is evidenced by elongated rather than bulb roots – correct with a side dressing of wood ashes or compost.