How to properly grow the wonderful Kestrel beet hybrid and how it differs from other species
Kestrel table beet is the standard of beet varieties and hybrids. It is popular among gardeners around the world. Kestrel is valued for its taste and commercial qualities, unpretentiousness and stable yield. The vegetable is tasty and healthy, and is universal in use.
Let's take a closer look at what Kestrel f1 beets are and how to grow a rich harvest on your plot.
Description
Kestrel is a mid-season crop; summer residents harvest 115–125 days after planting. In the southern regions of the country, these beets are planted with seeds in open ground; in the northern regions, seedlings are prepared.
Origin and development
The hybrid appeared thanks to the work of foreign breeders. Initially, beets were grown in the USA and Europe, but over time they gained fame in Russia and neighboring countries - Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova.
Distinctive features
The plant is small, the leaf rosette is compact. Kestrel is grown both for home use and on an industrial scale. The hybrid is resistant to weather changes and common diseases: root rot, powdery mildew, tobacco mosaic.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The fruits are spherical and smooth. The weight of one beet varies from 200 to 400 g. The tail is thin, the color is purple-pink. The pulp is dense, sugary and sweet. Kestrel has good keeping quality and can be transported over long distances. From 1 sq. m harvest 6–8 large vegetables.
Interesting! 100 g of Kestrel beets contain 40 kcal. The vegetable is used to prepare children's juices and purees - the dishes turn out tender and healthy. Beets contain dietary fiber, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A and B help digestion, magnesium and calcium strengthen bones.
How to grow
Some gardeners plant Kestrel seeds in open ground, others prepare seedlings. Let's consider each method in detail.
Planting by seeds
Hybrid seeds are purchased in specialized stores. When purchasing, check the integrity of the packaging and expiration date. Seeds are disinfected with aloe juice or a solution of succinic acid, soaking in liquid for a day. Then they are germinated and placed in damp gauze for a week. Disinfection and germination protect future plants from diseases and pests.
Kestrel is planted in mid-May. First, the soil is dug up and cleared of weeds and debris. If the soil is acidic, it is limed - sprinkled with a mixture of dry lime and wood ash. The beet planting pattern is 40×40, sowing depth is 2 cm. The seeds are placed in moist holes and sprinkled with soil.
The plantings are watered with warm water and covered with a film that protects the seedlings from wind and rain. Remove the film after 7 days.
Seedling method
Seedlings are prepared at the end of March. To do this, disinfected seeds are placed in seedling containers - pots, cassettes or containers. Peat pots are easy to use. They are made from environmentally friendly material, weigh little and are affordable. When transplanting, the pots are moved to prepared beds and sprinkled with soil.
Important! Kestrel loves nutritious and loose soil. For seedlings, it is recommended to use ready-made mixtures “Biogrunt” or “Krepysh”.They are disinfected by the manufacturer and are rich in nutritional components - magnesium, iron and potassium.
Seedlings need constant care: they are watered, loosened and fertilized. Moisten the beets as the soil dries, approximately once every 4–6 days. Excess water will harm the plants, so water them carefully, using a pipette directly at the root. It is prohibited to use cold tap water - the seedlings may get sick.
Fertilize the seedlings once every 15 days with organic matter - manure, droppings, ash - and mineral fertilizers - superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium salt.
Important! Before watering, loosen the soil with a fork or pencil. Loosening depth - no more than 5 cm.
Care
To obtain a rich harvest, regular beet care is required. It consists of the following procedures:
- Watering, the frequency of which depends on the weather. In hot and rainy summers - once every 7 days, in dry and cloudy summers - once every 5 days. Before watering The water is heated in the sun. About 0.8 liters are consumed per bush.
- Weeding includes loosening and removing weeds. Loosening makes the soil light; removing weeds maintains healthy microflora in the beds and prevents the appearance of pests.
- Mulching is a process in which the ground around the stem is sprinkled with sand, sawdust, leaves, and shavings. Mulch nourishes the root system and protects it from hypothermia.
- Feed Kestrel beets 3-4 times. Alternate organic and mineral fertilizers, root and foliar feeding (spraying from a spray bottle).
- Thinning the beds maintains planting density. Thin beets 2-3 times per season.
Important! Salt fertilizing has a positive effect on the quality of beets. To do this, dilute 60 g of table salt in 10 liters of clean water.It is recommended to water beets with this solution in June, during the period of root crop formation.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
For accelerated development, nitrogen fertilizing is applied in mid-June after thinning: 1 tablespoon of urea is diluted in 10 liters of water and the beds are watered. After the procedure, the beds are loosened and weeded, sprinkled with soil crumbs. The next fertilizer is applied after 15 days. It should be remembered that an excess of nitrogen-containing substances will lead to an increase in green mass and the appearance of diseases.
Important! The best predecessors for table beets are carrots, greens, garlic, legumes. It is not recommended to plant Kestrel after cabbage, radishes, potatoes or radishes. The crop is planted in the same place for no more than three seasons in a row.
Diseases and pests
The Kestrel hybrid is resistant to disease, however, due to improper care, the following diseases may appear in the beds:
- Ascochytaosis. The leaves become covered with brown spots and deep ulcers appear. Ascochyta blight occurs due to irregular watering and sudden temperature changes. Disease prevention is achieved by following care measures. For treatment, professional drugs “Maxim”, “Quadris”, “Oxychom” are used. Before use, study the recommendations and dosage.
- Fomoz covers the plant yellow spots. The causes of the disease lie in contaminated soil and non-compliance with crop rotation rules. If the disease is not detected in time, the plant will dry out and the fruits will deteriorate. Phomasis is treated with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate solution.
Of the insects, gardeners note the wireworm. A thick worm digs holes in the ground and destroys the root system.The wireworm is dangerous both for young seedlings and large bushes. Preventing the appearance of insects - dry eggshells on the beds.
Slugs are also found in beet beds. Sticky pests suck the juice from the leaves, causing the plants to soon wilt. Get rid of slugs by spraying with iodine solution.
Harvesting and application
The crop is harvested in September. The ripeness of a vegetable is determined by its color and foliage. Ripe beets should be purple, with a lush rosette and clearly visible veins. The lower leaves dry out and growths appear on the root crop. Vegetables are dug up with a shovel, cleared of soil and laid out on beds to dry. Afterwards, the tops are removed and stored.
Important! Store beets in a dry cellar or basement with air humidity no more than 85%. Vegetables are placed in clean wooden boxes and covered with newspapers. Periodically, stocks are inspected for the presence of rot or insects. Spoiled fruits are thrown away.
Beetroot is used in the preparation of many dishes - vinaigrette, beetroot soup, borscht, salad with prunes. The vegetable gives dishes a sweetish taste and saturates it with vitamins and minerals. Prepared from beets and prepared for the winter - pickled and preserve harvest in the form of salads and snacks. To taste, beets combine with cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and pickles.
Interesting! In Rus', beets were used as blush for the cheeks.
Advantages and disadvantages
The hybrid is valued for its unpretentiousness and high yield, tasty pulp and long shelf life. Kestrel is universal in use; it is grown for home consumption and sale. The vegetable is famous for its attractive appearance, keeping quality and transportability.
The hybrid has no significant disadvantages.However, if not properly cared for, Kestrel gets sick or dies from insect pests.
Farmer reviews
Despite the popularity of Kestrel beets, there are negative reviews about this crop. Let's consider several opinions of experienced gardeners.
Galina, St. Petersburg: “I’ve been growing Kestrel for the third season in a row. Beets are tasty and juicy and do not require much water. I feed the plants with liquid mullein - it strengthens the roots and leaves. I collect vegetables in mid-September.”
Gennady, Ufa: “The hybrid is disease-resistant, the yield is stable. The only negative is that you have to often weed and thin out the beds. This is not always convenient; you have to go to the garden every 3-4 days. I rate Kestrel a solid four.”
Dmitry, Sochi: “Kestrel beets disappointed me. He followed all the rules for planting and care, and prepared the seedlings in advance. But due to frequent rains, the plants fell ill with ascochyta blight. Half the harvest was lost."
Conclusion
Kestrel is a universal hybrid. It is planted by both experienced farmers and novice gardeners. An unpretentious crop shows the best yield in sunny and spacious beds fertilized with mullein.
Kestrel is harvested in September, when the fruits become hard. Part of the harvest is processed, the rest is removed for long-term storage in the cellar.