Beetroot Yields That Beet Your Expectations

Cropler is your 24/7 agri-assistant for remote monitoring of beetroot health and timely response to threats

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Beetroot: Key Facts

Height

30–60 cm (1–2 feet)

Yield

15–25 tons per hectare, on average; can be up to 40-45 tons

Pollination

Wind-pollinated. Sometimes; pollination by insects also contributes.

Roots

Taproot system; the roots are the primary edible part.

Plant spacing
and depth

Typically, 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 inches) depth, 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) between plants (affects the beet size), and 25-40 cm between rows.

Irrigation needs

Moderate but consistent moisture is essential for proper root development; avoid water logging to prevent diseases.

Geography

Primarily grown in temperate regions of Europe and the US.

Temperature

Optimal is between 15–24°C (59–75°F). Beetroot can tolerate light frost but is sensitive to heat.

Season

Typically sown in early spring or late summer, depending on the variety.

Growth cycle duration

50–70 days; may slightly differ depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Soil

Prefers sandy or loamy soils with good drainage. Heavy clay soils should be well-managed; otherwise, they can cause poor root development.

6.0–7.0

Beetroot Phenophases and Signs to Look Out For

Germination and Seedling Emergence

The seeds begin to sprout, and cotyledons emerge from the soil. It can take 5 to 10 days, depending on the temperature. Then, the plant forms its first true leaves, and the root system starts to develop in the upper layers of the soil.

Common threats and diseases: Soil-borne fungal infections, damping-off disease, pest damage from root aphids, maggots, cyst nematodes.

Signs to watch: Slow germination, yellowing leaves, seedling wilt, pest activity around seedlings, visible maggots or aphids.

Vegetative Growth

The plant begins to develop more leaves, the root starts to expand and thicken. It’s important to maintain proper moisture levels, avoiding both water stress and water logging.

Common threats and diseases: Aphid infestation, fungal diseases (downy mildew, leaf spot), bacterial blight.

Signs to watch: Yellowing, curled, or wilting leaves, spots or lesions on the leaves, stunted plant growth, aphid clusters beneath the leaves.

Root Expansion

The root starts to swell and store more nutrients. This is the key root development stage, so fertilizers may be needed depending on your crop’s health and soil condition.

Common threats and diseases: Root rot, fungal diseases, nematodes, bacterial infections; excessive moisture can exacerbate these issues.

Signs to watch: Poor root growth and expansion, rotting texture of roots, signs of fungal infections, lesions.

Flowering (Bolting)

Under normal conditions, beet plants should not flower; it can switch the plant’s energy streams to leaves, so the root doesn’t reach the needed size and quality. Bolting (premature flowering) can happen because of specific environmental conditions, like cold exposure, long day hours, dry hot weather, or other stress. This phase is not desired and can be avoided by choosing bolting-resistant varieties, adjusting sowing times, removing bolting plants, and controlling soil conditions.

Common threats and diseases: Bolting itself may be considered an issue; plants may struggle with disease resistance.

Signs to watch: The development of flower stalks; some other threats common in previous stages like fungal or bacterial diseases and pests.

Maturation and Harvesting

The beetroot is fully matured, and the root has reached its final size. Leaves begin to die off, signaling that the plant is ready to be harvested.

Common threats and diseases: Overmaturity leading to lignified, fibrous roots; pest damage.

Signs to watch: Wilted leaves, signs of pest damage during harvesting.

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Common types

Red Beets:
The most common type; color varies from deep red to purple.

Golden Beets:
Golden-yellow beets; sweeter and softer when cooked compared to red beets.

Chioggia:
An Italian variety with alternating red and white circles, “candy-striped” beets.

Bull’s Blood:
A variety known for maroon leaves and stems; the roots and the leaves are equally popular in cooking.

Avalanche Beets:
White beets with milder flavor and higher sugar content.

Baby Beets:
Young, small beets harvested early for their sweet taste and mellow texture.

Cropler helps in every field

Poland

Detecting a beetroot disease

Beetroot , 1 August 2024

Beetroot , 11 August 2024

Beetroot , 20 August 2024

Cropler’s agri-cameras detected Cercospora Leaf Spot on beets. On mature leaves, circular light-brown spots with a 2-3 mm diameter and a reddish-brown border were observed.

Why detecting Cercospora is critical: Severely affected leaves die off, prompting the plant to produce new leaves, which consume a significant amount of nutrients. This results in underdeveloped roots and reduced sugar accumulation. The greater the degree of infection, the higher the losses from Cercospora. With mild infection, sugar yield loss per hectare can range from 5-10%. With moderate infection, losses can reach up to 20%, and with severe infection, up to 70%.

Outcome: Due to daily online monitoring using the Cropler camera, farmers were able to timely detect the disease and apply appropriate fungicides to prevent yield losses.

Cropler helps in many ways

Our goal is to help you monitor beetroot health day by day, ensuring proper development and timely identification of diseases and environmental factors

Monitor plant health remotely 24/7

Choose the best time to irrigate and fertilize

Act quickly in the case of diseases or pests

Plan harvesting and estimate yield potential