Beets and Carrots
Vitamin-rich, easy to grow and not fattening…
Beets and carrots can be planted from September until February. Select a well-drained area and rake the soil into rows. If manure or compost is to be added to the soil, be sure the material is well-rotted.
Two good crops for the winter garden are beets and carrots. Both are good producers, require a small space for growing, they're rich in vitamins and are relatively easy to grow.
Beets and carrots can be planted from September until February. Select a well-drained area and rake the soil into rows. If manure or compost is to be added to the soil, be sure the material is well-rotted.
Apply one pound of an 8-24-24 fertilizer for each 25- to 30-feet of row, then seed the vegetables one-quarter inch deep. In medium and heavy soils, choose only those carrot varieties which are stubby, such as Danvers and Chantenay.
Germination is a critical time…
The several weeks before the seeds germinate are critical. Keep the soil uniformly moist all the time around the seed area, even if this means sprinkling lightly with water every day. A thin layer of mulch will help keep the seed area damp and stop the soil from crusting. After sprouts appear, prevent over-crowding of the plants by thinning them to one every two inches.
Control weeds…
Continue the uniform supply of moisture in the soil, keep the beds weed-free, and side-dress with fertilizer after the plants are four to five weeks old. Don't allow carrots to stop growing because of a lack of food or water. If they stop growing they may split or become tough.
Harvesting crops…
The beets are ready to be harvested when the roots are two to three inches in diameter. Carrots can be taken from the row when they reach a half-inch or more in diameter. Both vegetables are high in Vitamin C and the beet tops are rich in Vitamin A.
The variety Ruby Queen is a good beet, there are also some golden type beets and elongated varieties.
For more information on beets and carrots contact your local County Extension Office.
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