BEETROOT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1939, Page 3

BEETROOT

LIKES LIGHT LOAM. . Beetroot is a native of England where it is found growing on the sea beach on the south coast. . Like the other root crops, it likes a light loam, but can be grown on any kind of soil provided it is deeply and thoroughly cultivated. If the soil is very heavy it will be an advantage to prepare holes as advised for parsnips for the longrooted varieties. There are two distinct varieties—one with globe or round roots and one with long roots—the round-rooted varieties being most suitable for early sowing, and the long rooted kinds for the main crop. As beet is really a salad crop, and salads are most popular in the summer, it is important to have early crops, and these are obtained by sowing Egyptian turnip-rooted or globe varieties now in rows 12 inches apart, the seedlings being thinned out to from six to nine inches apart, as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. In Masterton the Crimson Globe type seem to do best. The long-rooted or maincrop kinds are sown in drills 14 inches apart, and the plants are thinned out to from nine to twelve inches apart. During the summer the hoe should be run through between the rows regularly. and when lifting the roots care should be taken not to damage them any more than can be helped to prevent bleeding.