Sweet and full of vitamins beets “Mulatto”: how to grow a rich harvest and where to use it
Beetroot is an indispensable product both in the ordinary kitchen and in the food industry. For example, beetroot powder is a natural coloring; it is present not only in ketchups and pastes, but also in sweet desserts. In addition, the vegetable is extremely healthy and contains a rich complex of vitamins and minerals. In order not to waste time searching for quality beets in supermarkets, many gardeners prefer to grow them themselves.
Among all the variety, the Mulatto variety stands out; it is loved for its sweet taste and ease of care. Let's take a closer look at what the Mulatto beet variety is and how to get a good harvest.
Description of the variety
Mulatto is a mid-season variety; the first harvest is harvested 110-120 days after planting. The variety is a favorite of many gardeners; its fruits have an excellent juicy taste and attractive presentation.
Origin and development
The Mulatka variety appeared thanks to the work of Russian breeders in the late 80s of the twentieth century. The plant quickly became widespread among gardeners and farmers. In addition to Russia, the crop is actively grown in Ukraine, where beets are called “buryak”, in Moldova and Belarus. To this day, the Mulatto variety is valued for its high yield and disease resistance.
Distinctive features
Beet bushes are medium in size, oval leaves, light green in color. The plate is smooth with wavy edges.The plant has high immunity to bad weather and other external factors. Mulatto has a long shelf life and does not lose its taste and external qualities.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The weight of the fruit varies from 160 to 350 g. The color is red-burgundy, rich. The surface of the beets is smooth and even, and the shape is round. The cut flesh is tender and juicy, with a high sugar content. From 1 sq. m summer residents collect about 5 kg of ripe and appetizing fruits.
Interesting! Due to its unpretentiousness in care, beets are cultivated even in the Magadan and Sakhalin regions, as well as in Yakutia.
How to grow
Growing Mulatto beets is a simple process, the main thing is to follow all agricultural practices and rules. The crop is planted using seedlings or without seedlings. The first is suitable for regions with unpredictable climatic conditions, the second is appropriate in areas with warm weather and fertile soil.
Planting by seeds
Before planting seeds, be sure to disinfect the seed using a solution of potassium permanganate or aloe juice. Place the seeds in a fabric bag, then lower it into the prepared liquid. Disinfection reduces the risk of developing diseases in the future and also increases the plant’s immunity.
The next stage is preparing the land. Beets are an unpretentious plant, but it is better to plant them on a dry and loose plot of land. At the end of October, dig up the future beds, remove all debris, and burn the weeds. With the arrival of spring, dig up the ground again, and then add river sand or lime to the beds. This is necessary in order to make the soil looser and reduce its acidity.
Once the beds are ready, make small grooves in the soil at a distance of 30 cm from each other. Place disinfected seeds in them and sprinkle soil on top, watering them generously with warm water.
Important! Experienced farmers advise using rainwater for irrigation. Its composition is optimal for watering young seedlings and does not contain pathogenic microorganisms. To easily collect rainwater, simply place a couple of empty tanks on your property. If there is a house nearby, build waste surfaces above the containers.
Planting seedlings
Seedlings help sprouts to quickly take root in the beds and withstand frosts and other unfavorable conditions without problems. For seedlings you will need a container. It can be anything: milk or kefir bags, wooden boxes, flower pots and even plastic cups. Before planting, do not forget to thoroughly wash the container, dry it and treat it with a weak solution of manganese.
Prepare the soil for seedlings in advance. Some gardeners prefer to use a mixture of garden soil, peat and humus. Other gardeners purchase special soil “Krepysh” or “Universal” soil. The main thing is that the soil is clean, free of dangerous microbes, larvae and foreign debris. To be sure of the quality of the soil, gardeners advise disinfecting the soil using an ash solution.
Seedlings are prepared 3-4 weeks before planting beets in the ground. Plant the seeds at a distance of 2 cm from each other. After sowing, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil and water with a small amount of water, approximately 1 liter per 1 kg of soil. Then the seedlings are covered with film or thin glass and placed in the warmest and brightest place in the house. As a rule, this is a window sill.
Important! Beet seedlings require attention and care. Water the sprouts every 7 days, preferably in the morning or evening. Use only filtered warm water. After 2 weeks from the moment of planting, the seedlings are fed with liquid bird droppings or nettle infusion. For more accelerated development, the growth stimulator “Kornevin” is added.
Care
Timely and competent care is the key to a tasty, rich harvest. When watering, be guided by weather conditions. If the summer is hot and humid, water your beet beds every 7-10 days. If the weather is dry and there is no rain, moisten the soil once every 5 days. Use only rain or settled water. To prevent sunburn, moisten the soil early in the morning or after sunset.
After watering, a thin crust may form on the soil. It makes it difficult for oxygen to reach the roots. Therefore, the beds need to be loosened regularly. Loosen the soil every 7 days, combining with the removal of weeds. Weeding maintains cleanliness in the beds and conditions for normal development of beets.
Mulatto beets need mineral supplements and organic fertilizers. This can be root feeding, for example potassium chloride or superphosphate, as well as foliar feeding - pollination of bushes with soap or onion solution.
In total, during the ripening period of the crop, 3-4 fertilizing is carried out, which not only protects the beds from diseases and pests, but also improves the taste of the fruit.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
Be careful with nitrogen fertilizers, as their excess causes an increased level of nitrates in the fruits. Apply fertilizers containing copper, boron and molybdenum in a timely manner. Otherwise, the quality of the fruit will noticeably deteriorate.
If beet leaves become light in color, immediately feed the plants with potassium supplements. There are situations when tops turns red. This means that the plant does not have enough sodium or the acidity level in the soil is exceeded. To eliminate the problem, gardeners advise sprinkling the beds with ash and watering the bushes with salt water.
Interesting! In ancient Rome, beets were considered a symbol of quarrels. However, people still actively ate root vegetables, tops and even the roots of young plants. Before this, the Romans soaked them in water and sprinkled them with pepper.
Advice from experienced gardeners
To increase the quantity and quality of the harvest, experienced gardeners recommend using special rules and growing secrets.
Important Recommendations:
- The best predecessors for beets are cucumbers, potatoes, onions and tomatoes;
- do not plant the crop after carrots or other beet varieties;
- for more sugar, water the beds with a salt solution at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. for 10 liters of water;
- beets love moisture - per 1 sq. m uses about 20 liters of water;
- If possible, use a drip irrigation system. It saves water and directs it directly to the root, bypassing the stems and leaves;
- a month before harvesting, try not to over-moisten the soil;
- To speed up growth, cover the beds with vermiculite or peat.
Diseases and pests
If not properly cared for, the crop may develop fungal infections or viral diseases.
The most common of them are:
- Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on leaves and stems. The causes of the disease are high humidity, contaminated soil, and untimely weeding of the beds. As a preventive measure, water the bushes with a solution based on aloe juice, follow the rules of crop rotation.If powdery mildew has already appeared in the beds, treat the affected areas with ground sulfur.
- Phoma primarily affects the leaves, covering them with yellow spots. After 2-3 days, the disease spreads to root crops, and the beets begin to rot. To prevent Phoma, spray the garden with a solution of Bordeaux mixture. For treatment, it is necessary to treat the beds with 0.4% copper oxychloride.
Among the pests, beet midges and aphids attack the beds. Insects settle on plant leaves and suck vital juice from them. For this reason, fruit development slows down and taste deteriorates. For prevention, gardeners advise spraying the beds with a soap solution, loosening them in time and removing weeds.
Another dangerous pest is the mole cricket. The insect lives in the ground and does not die even in winter at low temperatures. The mole cricket lays eggs and makes nests under the beds. The larvae begin to gnaw the roots of the plant, which leads to metabolic disorders. Dry eggshells or spraying the beds with a solution of copper sulfate will help get rid of mole crickets.
Harvesting and application
The Mulatto crop is harvested before the first frost. Dig up the beets with a pitchfork, then clear the soil and lay them out on the garden bed. Next, cut off the tops, leaving a small petiole. For storage, smooth and beautiful fruits are selected, without scratches or rot.
Vegetables are best stored in wooden or plastic containers covered with film on top. The optimal air temperature for storing Mulatto beets is from 0 to +2 degrees.
The variety is used for preparing a wide variety of dishes. For example, a salad of garlic and prunes would be an excellent addition to dinner, and a festive table would be decorated with beet liver cake. Also very popular are beetroot salad with nuts, borscht, herring under a fur coat, and vinaigrette.
Plus, sweet and healthy desserts are prepared from beets: beet pancakes with fermented baked milk, chocolate pie with beets and nuts, beet pancakes.
Interesting! Beetroot - universal homemade medicine. It has an anti-inflammatory, diuretic and wound healing effect. In addition, beets contain iodine, B vitamins, and minerals. Regular consumption of beets improves digestion and helps reduce excess weight. The vegetable is ideal for dietary and baby food. Beetroot also serves as an excellent remedy for the beauty of hair and skin.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of the Mulatka variety include ease of care, attractive appearance and high taste. Beets are universal in use; the fruits contain a large amount of sugar, which makes dishes more tasty. Plus, Mulatto shows stable and excellent productivity, despite the weather conditions and growing region.
Flaws: From time to time the vegetable gets sick or is exposed to insect pests. Otherwise, the Mulatka variety is characterized as productive and tasty.
Farmer reviews
There are a variety of reviews on the Internet about the Mulatto variety. Some gardeners call Mulatto their favorite variety, while others were dissatisfied with the harvest.
Maria, Orel: “As far as I can remember, I always grew Mulatto beets on the plot.I like the fact that it always turns out beautiful and even, with an appetizing burgundy color. I add it to salads and soups, I make juice - The fruits taste excellent. I recommend growing it."
Oleg, Moscow: “I planted the Red Ball and Mulatka varieties on the plot, but was especially pleased with Mulatka. The summer turned out to be dry, but the variety still showed an excellent harvest. From 1 sq. m collected 6 kg! In my opinion, this is an excellent indicator of productivity, I will definitely plant more next year.”
Aigul, Tyumen: “I planted Mulatto in open ground. Unfortunately, after 3 weeks I saw aphids on small bushes. A soap solution helped get rid of it. But the quality of the harvest has noticeably deteriorated compared to last year. Next season I’ll try to plant a more insect-resistant variety.”
Conclusion
Beets are a healthy and indispensable product in the diet. It gives the body vitamins and improves immunity. The most delicious vegetables are those grown on your own plot. The Mulatto variety is universal and easy to care for, so even a novice gardener will be able to get a decent harvest. The Mulatto variety is easy to care for and does not require special skills. At the same time, the beets grow beautiful and appetizing.