The most common beet diseases: description of symptoms and effective treatment
Sudden changes in weather, poor-quality seeds, and contaminated soil can lead to beet diseases. Both simple varieties and hybrids can get sick. It is important to know the methods of combating bacteria, infections and fungus, to understand why the tops wither or spots and rot appear.
In this article we will look at the most common beet diseases, show their signs in photos and recommend proven remedies.
Beet diseases
Beets are grown by gardeners all over the country, be it sunny Krasnodar or cold Novosibirsk. Experienced summer residents recommend preventing diseases through preventive measures and maintaining garden bed hygiene.
Fomoz
Fungal disease occurs due to acidic and poor-quality soil or due to contaminated seed material. The fungus affects the stems, leaves and fruits: the beets turn gray and become rotten.
For prevention purposes, summer residents lime the soil and fertilize the beds with minerals. If the disease has already attacked the plant, then effective drugs “Taboo”, “Simba” or “Hacker” are used. Use products in accordance with the recommendations on the packaging.
Ascochyta blight
The fungus appears in the form of convex spots of various shapes with a dark border. The spots become dotted and the leaves dry out. The source of infection with ascochyta blight is the remains of old plants and affected seeds.
A favorable environment for the development of fungus is heat and high humidity.The affected parts of the bushes are treated with a mixture of copper sulfate and sulfur. If the fungus has infected the entire bush, then the plant is eliminated from the beds and immediately burned.
Rhizoctoniosis
Brown rot is common not only in Russia, but also in other parts of the planet. Rot causes the main damage during the ripening period of beets. Due to rhizoctonia, seedlings appear unevenly, and the bushes become very elongated.
To prevent the disease, gardeners advise planting beets after corn and other cereal plants. Professional preparations “Maxim” and “Quadris” help against rot.
Penosporosis
Penosporosis is also called downy mildew. The fungus appears during the flowering period and attacks the leaves, causing them to become yellow and dry, with curled edges. Dangerous bacteria are hidden in the remains of plants and weeds.
To prevent the disease, gardeners carefully dig up the beds before sowing and burn all debris. To combat penosporosis, gardeners recommend spraying beets with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate solution.
Cercospora
Pale gray spots with a red frame appear on the leaves. The first symptoms may appear as early as mid-June. Soon a velvety gray coating appears. The cause of cercospora lies in frequent rains and fogs.
For preventive purposes, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are regularly applied and the soil is loosened. For control, the drug “Abiga-Pik” or “Fitosporin” is used.
Kagatny rot
The disease most often spreads to ripe and harvested crops. It appears in the form of multi-colored mold on the fruits. If no action is taken, the beets rot and turn dark brown or black.
Compliance with the rules for harvesting and storing crops helps prevent hog rot. The collected beets are well dried on all sides in the sun and placed in a cool, dark room. For example, in a basement or cellar.
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a viral disease, the causes of which are hidden in improper care or lack of nutrients..
Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on leaves and stems. Sprays based on whey or kefir are recognized as an effective remedy against the disease. The solution creates a protective film on the surface of the leaf, which prevents dangerous spores from penetrating deeper. 
Bacterial cancer
Beet cancer appears as growths on root crops. The cause of the disease is dangerous bacteria living in plant debris. A favorable environment for the development of growths and rot is soil with a high level of acidity. It is treated with the drugs “Tornado” or “Maxim”.
Important! To reduce the acidity level of the soil, liming is carried out. Before sowing, lime and wood ash are added to the soil.
Fusarium
The disease usually appears in late May or early June. Slows down the development of roots; many small shoots appear on their sides. Fusarium occurs due to lack of moisture and severe overheating.
Preventive measures against the disease include regular application of organic fertilizers. If the beets are already infected, then gardeners use the drugs “Alarin B” or “Oxychom”.
Mosaic
Appears in the form of dark and light spots on the leaves. The size and outline of the spots are different. Over time, the leaves become wrinkled and thin. Mosaic is a tenacious virus that does not die even in cold winter soil.For prevention, gardeners regularly loosen the beds and remove weeds.
In the fight against mosaic, the drug “Strobi” is used. The effective composition of "Strobi" quickly decomposes in the soil to acid, which means that it is safe for humans. The prepared solution is used within two hours.
Rizomania
The disease spreads through contaminated soil, water, and garden tools. That is why, before planting, all rakes and shovels are disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate. Rhizomania is also called “beet beardedness”, since when the disease occurs, the fruits become overgrown with a kind of “beard”.
As a preventive measure, potassium and nitrogen-containing fertilizers, as well as ash, are added to the soil. To treat rhizomania, the drugs “Chorus” or “Fundazol” are used.
Blackleg
The disease affects the roots, they become weak, after which they turn black and die. Beetroot stops growing and turns yellow. Blackleg develops especially actively in cold and humid summers.
To prevent the appearance of blackleg, liming is carried out before planting, only disinfected seeds are sown, and weeds are promptly removed. Gardeners advise removing those plants that are severely damaged from the beds and burning them.
The most common beet diseases
In open ground, beets are most often affected by diseases that are caused by unfavorable weather conditions, for example, rainy summers or extreme heat.
Unprotected beet beds are attacked by cercospora blight, phomosis and fusarium blight. Fungi actively penetrate the plant and develop inside the stem in conditions of high humidity. This is why it is so important not to over-moisten the soil and to follow the watering regime.
In greenhouses and greenhouse shelters, the causes of diseases lie in contaminated garden equipment. Before planting, the greenhouse is thoroughly ventilated, and a smoke bomb is used to disinfect the soil. Greenhouse beets often suffer from powdery mildew, mosaic and blackleg.
Read also:
Why do beet leaves wither?
Why do the leaves wither? The most common reason for wilting of beet leaves is that they lack moisture and air. However, sometimes the reasons for withering lie in the fact that:
- the beets got sick with a fungus;
- the vegetable is exposed to insect pests;
- the root crop lacks phosphorus, potassium and magnesium;
- summer residents neglect organic and mineral fertilizing;
- Weeding of the beds occurs irregularly.
To prevent leaf wilting, gardeners recommend feeding the beds with manganese sulfate 2-3 times per season. To do this, 5 g of manganese is required per 10 liters of water. The solution is sprayed on the bushes in the early morning or evening to avoid sunburn.
It is useful to feed beets with wood ash. For 10 liters of water use 2-3 cups of dry ash.
Beet pests
The beet midge attacks the beet beds. These small flying insects suck juice and nutrients from the leaves. Because of the beet midge, the development of the crop slows down, the fruits lose their elasticity and taste. What should gardeners do in this case? To combat them, spray with a solution based on onion peels.
Wire beetles and mole crickets damage beets. Insects penetrate deep underground and destroy the root system.Spraying with Bordeaux mixture helps control pests. Before the procedure, be sure to wear safety glasses, a respirator and gloves.
Important! A dangerous pest called beet nematode negatively affects the roots, causing the leaves to turn yellow and wither. If measures are not taken in time, the beets die.
Preventive measures
Both agrotechnical techniques and traditional methods help in the preventive fight against diseases and pests. Among the latter, experienced gardeners use the following:
- Spray the bushes with a whey-based solution. For 5 liters of water, 50 ml of whey is required. The liquid must fall directly onto the stems and leaves to form a protective film.
- Treating bushes with dry wood ash not only improves the immunity of beets, but also improves its taste.
- Pour aloe juice over it. The leaves are cut and poured with settled water. They are infused for two to three weeks, after which you need to strain and dilute the concentrate in water (1 tbsp per 1 liter of water). Watering with this solution prevents the appearance of fungal diseases and protects the beets from midges and aphids.
The main thing is to carry out the procedures regularly, once every 2-3 weeks. Beets especially need additional protection during the ripening period of root crops.
Gardeners recommend the following agricultural practices:
- Carefully dig up the beds before planting, remove all plant debris and burn it.
- Follow the rules of crop rotation. Plant beets after grains or legumes. It is not recommended to plant the crop after carrots or potatoes.
- Liming is carried out using ash and lime. Add peat or humus to the soil before planting.
Tips and tricks
General conditions for normal beet growth and high yield:
- plant the crop on nutritious and loose soil;
- check seeds for germination and harden them;
- use settled water for irrigation;
- maintain the distance between the beds;
- disinfect equipment, soil and seeds;
- Apply mineral or organic fertilizer once every 2 weeks;
- at the first signs of illness, take immediate action;
- Store beets only in a dry, well-ventilated place.
Conclusion
To ensure that the harvest grows tasty and of high quality, many gardeners choose hybrids that are resistant to diseases and pests. However, even such beets require prevention. Ash, whey, and aloe juice come to the rescue.
If the beets are already sick, then professional remedies such as Oxychom, Quadris, and Maxim can help cure them. The drug descriptions indicate precautions and recommended dosages.