potash, either broadcast or in The soil surface should be kept

Beetroot bands 50 mm to the side and moist until the seed has genni-
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is an im- 50 mm deeper than drill row. nated. The beetroot seed is
portant salad vegetable. Although Care must be taken not to over- really a seed capsule containing an
the demand is greatest during the lime as manganese may become average of three seeds, and seed-
summer, sowings can be made so deficient when soils are alkaline. lings tend to grow in closely knit
that beet is available from late Beetroot is sensitive to deficiencies bunches. The vigor of the whole
spring until midwinter. of this element. Manganese de- stand will suffer unless the seed-
Beet is fairly sensitive to cold ficiency is seen as a yellowing of lings are thinned. Thinning should
temperatures. Prolonged exposure the leaves. begin when seedlings are 50 m m
to temperatures less than lo0 C Beets are also sensitive to boron high; first to a spacing of 25 mm
will cause bolting. Early plantings deficiency. This causes an between seedlings then to 75 mm.
in July or August should therefore internal breakdown of the root and Beetroot will transplant satis-
be made in the warmest part of is particulary severe when the soil factorily, so that thinnings can be
the garden. is alkaline and the season is dry. used to fill any gaps in the row.
Early Wonder can be sown Ensure that beetroot receives
from July in the most northern ample water while it is growing. Cultivation
areas of Victoria. Mid-August is Weeds should be controlled, but
the earliest that sowings should be Sowing and thinning as many of the roots of beetroot
made in the south. It is slightly A fine seed bed is necessary to plants are near the surface, culti-
flat in appearance and sometimes ensure a good germination of seed. vation should be shallow. Weeds
develops white rings or zoning in The seed is sown 20 to 25 mm in beetroot crops can be controlled
the flesh. Top Market can also be deep in drill rows 300 mm apart. by spraying with salt solution
sown early. The root has a better Soaking seed in water for 24 hours (1 kg per 5 litres of water). Salt
quality and texture than Early before sowing will hasten germi- must be applied with care, as on
Wonder. nation. poorly drained soils salt accumu-
Detroit Dark Red is later and
has a flesh of excellent color and
quality. Sowings of Detroit Dark
Red can be made in southern Vic-
. toria from September, through
February, and from October,
through March, in the north.
Derwent Globe is a deep round
beet; also with flesh of excellent
quality. Maturity is similar to
Detroit Dark Red. Green Top
Bunching is also a later maturing
variety. Its upright tops are ideal
for bunching and it is a popular
commercial market variety.
Golden Beet has a yellow root
and tastes the same as the red
varieties.
Soil requirements and fertilisers
Soil requirements are essentially
the same as for carrots (see page
80). Beetroot does not thrive on
acid soil and liming may be necces-
ary. Root crops in general
respond to applications of potash.
Beetroot needs to grow without
check to produce good quality
roots. Apply 60 to 120 g per
square metre of NPK 5 : 8 : 4
complete fertiliser or a 5 : 1
mixture of blood and bone and The beetroot plants on the right ore affected with nematodes.
lation can cause damage to vege-
table crops which follow.
Pest and disease control
Beetroot is a hardy crop and is
attacked by few diseases and pests.
Rust can be a problem in some
seasons, but healthy plants appear
to be able to outgrow this dis-
order. Leaf miner, which burrows
in the leaves, can be controlled by
spraying with maldison.
Beetroot can be harvested as
soon as the roots are 30 to 40 mm
in diameter and from then over a
period of ten weeks.
Broccoli can be successfully grown in all parts o f Victoria unlike its close
relative the cauliflower because it is less susceptible to differences in growing
conditions.
Broccoli
Green Sprouting Broccoli (Bras-
sica oleracea, variety italica) is
much easier to grow than its
close relative the cauliflower. The
open green flower buds are not
as tight as the cauliflower curd and
the plant is less susceptible to
differences in growing conditions.
Broccoli can be successfully
grown in all parts d Victoria.
Crops in northern districts should
be planted to mature during the
cooler months. After the larger
central head has been picked, the
numerous secondary heads can be
harvested over several weeks.
Soil requirements and fertilisers
Soil preparation and fertiliser
requirements are essentially the
same as those outlined for cabbage
on page 77. Broccoli must be
grown rapidily and it will respond
to heavy applications of animal
manure supplemented with 70 to
150 g of NPK 5:8:4 complete
fertiliser to the square metre.
If animal manures are not
available, use 150 g of complete
fertiliser. Side-dressings of 2: 1
sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of
soda plus muriate of potash should
be ,applied two or three times
during the growing season at 50 g
per square metre.
Sowing and planting
Plants are raised in seed beds in
the same way as cabbage (page
77) and then transpl'anted into
the garden, or, later in the season,
they can be seeded direct into
the garden bed.
Early sowings made in seed
beds in October and November
can be transplanted in December
and January. Later sowings, up
until April can be made in the
seed bed or direct. In the north-
e m districts, sowings can be made
in September and October; then
again from February through
April.
Seedlings are transplanted in
rows 750 mm apart and 500 m m
between the plants. Direct seeded
crops are firstly thinned to
250 mm between plants in rows
750 mm apart. This enables the
central heads of all plants to be
harvested. A later thinning
leaving one plant in three, will
allow adequate development of
the secondary heads on the re-
maining plants.
Side-dressings and watering are
essential to maintain good growth.
Particular attention must be given
to the watering of direct seeded
crops in the early stages of growth.
Maintain a regular pest and
disease control program as out-
lined for cabbage.
Hawesting
The central heads will be ready
to harvest about 12 weeks after
sowing; after which the side shoots
can be picked.
Wait until the buds which form
the head have fully developed but
do not allow the buds to open or
flower. Once heads begin to
flower. the side shoots c;ase to
develop. Cut the heads with 100
to 125 mm of stem attached.