In this episode of Farmer’s Inside Track, experts offer some advice on cultivating beetroot in Mzansi. Keatlegile Mnguni, who farms with livestock, and Devroll Legodi, who established Devroll Scenery Farm, have some insights to share about how to farm with this crop.
Spring and autumn are the best times to plant beetroot, although the vegetables can also be grown successfully throughout the summer on the Highveld of South Africa and during the winter in the Lowveld.
It is possible to plant at any time of the year in locations with mild temperatures. However, the months of August through December are the most productive for planting crops in Mzansi.
Beneficial to the health of the soil
According to Legodi, beetroot is helping her soil to thrive. She plants it in the winter for crop rotation purposes.
In terms of soil preparation, she highlights that beetroot is a demanding crop that requires soil coverage. “I believe in *1105, it never ever had to disappoint me – whether I was planting on the ground or I was creating my own seedling.”
Since germination, the changing climate has made things extremely difficult up to harvest time. Legodi explains that the crops’ struggles are visible on the leaves themselves, which is a concerning sign.
The balance between the seasons in crop rotation
Be prepared for the possibility of encountering cutworms if you plan to plant beetroots throughout the summer. In the event that it has rained recently, you should wait two or three days before applying fungicides and insecticides, advises Legodi.
She adds that preparing your soil for crop rotation, and even before you can begin cultivating your beets, is a very critical step that should not be skipped for a successful harvest.
During this episode, Legodi also covers:
- The market for the agro-processing sector.
- The inventive potential of agro-processing; and
- Suggestions to deal with the difficulties posed by the climate.
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