Beetroot is a fairly undemanding vegetable and is quite easy to grow in the garden. But how much nutrients do the beetroot need? Find out below whether and how much you should fertilize the beetroot.

Compost is the best fertilizer for beets

Nutritional requirements of beetroot

The beetroot is one of the medium eaters, which means it has a medium nutrient requirement. In the crop rotation, it is therefore grown in the bed in the second year after the heavy feeders. You can find out more about the four-field economy here.

Less is more

This principle applies to beetroot, because too much fertilizer increases the nitrate content in the beetroot. Nitrate is harmful to health, so intake should be kept to a minimum. Nitrogen and too much sun increase nitrate in beets. Up to 5000mg per kilo of beetroot are possible.

The right fertilizer for beetroot

You guessed it, nitrogen isn't right for beets. Instead, beetroot needs potassium-rich fertilizers. As in most cases, compost is a good, very complete choice. Nettle and comfrey manure are also suitable for fertilizing beetroot, as they provide them with potassium. Rock flour (€14.13) can also be used. If the beetroot is not supplied with sufficient nutrients, it will grow poorly.

If you prefer to use liquid fertilizer, you can buy special liquid fertilizer for vegetables in specialist shops.

When and how much is fertilized?

If there are sufficient nutrients in the vegetable bed, the beetroot does not need to be fertilized at all. This is the case, for example, if the bed has been upgraded with green manure. Otherwise, you should fold in a few shovels of compost or manure before sowing or planting. In the case of very nutrient-poor soils, you should fertilize again with compost during the growth phase, i.e. about six weeks after sowing.

Liquid fertilizers are short-term fertilizers and must therefore be applied more often. For details consult the manufacturer information.

The optimal pH value

Beetroot prefers a slightly acidic pH value between 6 and 7. If this value is too high, there may be deficiency symptoms or the beetroot will grow poorly. You can easily determine the pH of your soil with a test strip from the pharmacy.

tips

The right location and good neighbors have a positive effect on beetroot growth. Therefore, when planning your garden, pay attention to both.

Category:

Vegetable garden