The Tsyganka beetroot is a popular table variety that has been familiar to our gardeners for over two decades. It is beloved by vegetable growers, gardeners, and root vegetable enthusiasts for its excellent flavor and excellent agronomic characteristics.
Description of the Gypsy beetroot
The plant is semi-erect, forming a rosette of leaves. The leaf blades are long, green, medium-wide, and broadly oval. The veins on the leaves are red (medium intensity). The leaves are slightly blistered, with slightly wavy edges.
The roots are round, medium-sized, smooth, and uniform, with a rich red color. The flesh is bright red. There are virtually no rings when cut. The average weight is 250-300 g.
Who developed the Tsyganka variety?
The Tsyganka beetroot was developed by a group of breeders from Heterosis Selection LLC. Authors: Aliluyev A.V., Fedyakov V.P., Levtsova T.G., Steinert T.V. The variety was approved for cultivation in 2022. The variety is included in the State Register for the Ural Region.
Taste and purpose
The Tsyganka beetroot has a good, even excellent, flavor. The pulp contains 18.8% dry matter and 12.7% sugars. These roots are ideal for fresh consumption, culinary creation, freezing, and canning.
The Tsyganka beetroot is a mid-season variety. It takes 100-120 days from emergence to harvesting of the finished root crops, while bunched products are ready in 50-60 days. The yield is low. About 500 centners are harvested per hectare. Gardeners harvest 5-6 kg of root crops per square meter. The maximum yield is 680 centners. The marketability of the root crops is 93-95%.
Pros and cons
The Tsyganka beet has many advantages that gardeners have rightfully appreciated. When planning to plant this variety in your garden, it's helpful to know all its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
The main disadvantage of the crop is its relatively low yield.
Landing features
The variety prefers fertile, humus-rich soils. A neutral soil pH is ideal. Choose a sunny, level site with no standing water.
- ✓ Soil pH level should be strictly between 6.0-7.0 for optimal growth.
- ✓ Humus content in the soil should be at least 3.5% to ensure the necessary nutrition.
Landing features:
- The soil for beet planting is prepared in advance, in the fall. It is dug over, removing any stones and plant debris. Humus or other organic matter is added during the digging process. Slaked lime is added to acidic soils.
- In spring, complex mineral fertilizers are added to the soil.
- It is recommended to disinfect seeds with Fitosporin before planting. This will strengthen the plants' immunity and minimize the risk of blackleg.
- Sowing takes place around the end of April or the beginning of May, depending on climate conditions and weather.
- Sow seeds in pre-made rows, spaced 25-30 cm apart. Plant seeds 8-10 cm apart, planting to a depth of 2-4 cm.
Caring for beets
The Tsyganka beetroot requires basic care. Overall, it's considered one of the easiest crops to grow. The key is creating the right growing conditions, as this determines the taste, size, and shelf life of the beets.
- • Use drip irrigation to minimize the risk of overwatering and ensure even water distribution.
- • Water early in the morning or late in the evening to reduce water evaporation.
Care features:
- Beets require regular and moderate watering. This crop requires increased water only during the seed germination stage and root formation. The rest of the time, beets don't require much water, but watering the beds carefully is especially important when the roots are growing. The recommended watering rate per plant is 0.5 liters.
- Direct-seeded beets are thinned three times per season. First, a week after emergence, then at the 4-5 true leaf stage. The final thinning occurs when the roots reach 5 cm in diameter. The distance between plants should be 15-20 cm.
- Beets don't respond well to a hard crust forming on the soil surface. The space between the rows should be loosened the day after watering or rain.
Diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to most diseases affecting beets, but if agricultural practices are not followed and/or unfavorable weather conditions arise, it may be affected by some common infections.
Beets can get sick:
- Fomoz. It causes brown spots on the lower leaves. It is triggered by rain and fog. To combat the disease, plants are sprayed with boric acid.
- Cercospora leaf spot. This disease can destroy up to 60-70% of the crop. It causes a reddish border to appear on the upper surface of the leaves and a gray coating on the lower surface. Treatment is by spraying with potassium chloride.
- Downy mildew (peronosporosis). The disease is accompanied by the appearance of a gray-purple coating on the undersides of leaves, which eventually curl and dry out. To prevent infection, seeds are treated with fungicides before sowing.
- Fusarium rot. It occurs in June and July, due to plants weakened by hot weather. It is accompanied by cracks in the roots. Various types of rot can be prevented by spraying with boron. It is also recommended to reduce soil acidity and actively loosen the spaces between rows. All infected roots must be destroyed.
How to harvest
Harvesting mid-season beets begins around the beginning of September. The roots are pulled on a dry, sunny day, holding onto the beet tops. If the soil is moist, you can dig the beets up with a shovel or garden fork, leaving a distance of about 10 cm from the plants.
The tops are trimmed with pruning shears or scissors. The roots are left with 1 cm stems. Next, the beets are laid out under a canopy to dry. They are laid in a single layer. If the weather is dry and no rain is expected, the roots can be dried directly in the beds. The roots are then sorted, damaged ones are processed, and the good ones are stored.
- × Avoid storing beets in areas with high humidity (>90%) to prevent the development of fungal diseases.
- × Do not store beets near apples, as they emit ethylene, which accelerates the spoilage of root vegetables.
Mid-season beets can be stored in the refrigerator for 1.5-2 months at a temperature of approximately +5°C. They can also be stored in a basement; under good conditions and with adequate ventilation, the root vegetables will safely store there for up to six months. Optimal basement conditions include temperatures between +1°C and +2°C and humidity levels of 85-90%.
Reviews
The Tsyganka beetroot is a good choice for those looking for a mid-season variety and who dislike ringed or large roots. By planting this beetroot in your garden, you'll get tasty, small roots that are ideal for a variety of dishes and for making vitamin-rich juices.