Contents
Beetroot Kestrel F1 is a hybrid early-ripening variety, characterized by unpretentious care and good keeping quality of root crops. With proper soil preparation, compliance with agrotechnical standards and optimal planting dates, you can get an excellent harvest of a juicy, vitamin-rich vegetable.
History of origin
Kestrel F1 beetroot was bred in the city of Yusho (Provence region, southern France) by a Japanese team of breeders working on the basis of Sakata vegetables Europe SAS. Documents for the registration of the hybrid were filed in 2004. For three years, the variety underwent selection tests. Beetroot Kestrel F1 has been registered in the State Register since 2007.
The root crop quickly won recognition and the title of the standard of beet varieties. Since 2008, it has been grown in neighboring countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus).
Description of the beet variety Kestrel F1
The roots of the Kestrel F1 hybrid have a smooth surface, rounded shape. Spine of medium length, thin. The pulp is juicy, bright raspberry-red color. The texture is thick but soft. The main advantage of Kestrel F1 beets is a slightly pronounced ringiness. The weight of the fruit is from 200 to 400 g. The taste of the variety is excellent, the fruits are sweet. The sugar content is in the range of 10-12%.
The leaf socket of a hybrid of the average size, erect. The height of the tops does not exceed 30–35 cm. The leaves are wavy at the edges, bright green in color, oval in shape, slightly bubbly, long-petiolate. The haulm does not lose its healthy shine before harvesting. The rosette of leaves is not injured during the harvesting process, it is easily removed.
Characteristics of beet Kestrel F1
Beets are resistant to mechanical damage. During storage, the taste of the root crop is not lost. The culture easily tolerates temperature changes (spring cooling), is not demanding on watering.
After heat treatment, the color of the Kestrel F1 root crop remains the same saturated
Ripening terms and productivity of beet Kestrel F1
The beet hybrid of the Kestrel variety is early ripe. Ripening time:
- during spring planting, from the appearance of the first shoots to harvesting from the beds, it takes from 100 to 120 days;
- with early spring placement, 55–60 days are enough to grow bunch beets;
- summer sowing – 50-60 days.
The hybrid perfectly tolerates transportation, differs in keeping quality. The yield of the variety on garden beds from 1 m2 – up to 6 kg.
In the fields, Kestrel beet yields up to 90 t/ha
Disease and pest resistance
Beetroot Kestrel is immune to powdery mildew, fusarium, cercosporosis. Diseases that can appear on the beds of a hybrid if agrotechnical standards are violated:
- phomosis is manifested by yellow spots on the plant. The disease affects beets if the rules of crop rotation are not followed. If timely measures are not taken to eliminate it, the root crop will dry out. At the first sign, the beds should be treated with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid;
- ascochitosis – the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. The cause of the disease is sudden changes in temperature, irregular irrigation. Treatment is carried out with fungicidal agents: Quadris, Maxim, Oksikhom (in compliance with the dosage and manufacturer’s recommendations).
Pests that affect the beds:
- beet flea damages young leaves. Especially dangerous in hot, dry weather. If the growing point is damaged, the plant will dry out;
- the beet fly bites into the inside of the leaf, where it lives until turning into a chrysalis;
- leaf aphid sucks the juice from the stems, young shoots and tops.
Advantages and disadvantages
Benefits of beetroot Kestrel F1:
- resistance to diseases that affect plants of the Amaranth family;
- excellent taste qualities of the root crop;
- high yield;
- tolerates transportation well;
- suitable for long-term storage.
The disadvantages include the defeat of the Kestrel hybrid by pests. It is easy to deal with this shortcoming. The main thing is to take preventive measures in a timely manner.
When to plant
Beet Kestrel is a heat-loving plant. Varietal affiliation does not affect the time of planting. It should be planted in open ground after the threat of spring night frosts has passed, and the earth warms up to +8 ̊С. Experienced summer residents recommend warming the beds for the first time using covering material. The optimal time for sowing a hybrid is from mid-May to the second decade of June. For seedling cultivation, the root crop is sown in the second half of April (approximately 3–4 weeks before transplanting into open ground).
Landing methods
In some regions, if you wait for conditions that are comfortable for the growth of beets, the crop may not be harvested. Therefore, gardeners practice the cultivation of the Kestrel F1 hybrid in seedlings.
Seedling growing method
The main thing is to correctly calculate the time of transplanting seedlings into open ground. If the seedlings stretch and “overgrow”, this will lead to a decrease in the yield of the hybrid. For the cultivation of beets in trays, both store-bought soil mixture and homemade soil are suitable. The proportions of the optimal composition of the soil:
- garden soil and humus – one part each;
- peat – two parts.
Root crop Kestrel F1 does not tolerate acidic soil, so for every 5 kg of mixture, add ½ cup of wood ash. To disinfect the soil mixture, it should be steamed in the oven or double boiler for one hour.
Stages of sowing and cultivation of beets in seedlings:
- The soil in the tray is compacted. Spread the seeds on top.
- Planting material is sprinkled with soil so that the height of the top layer does not exceed 1,5 cm.
- The earth in the tray is a little tamped, watered.
Cover the container with a transparent film or a glass dome, remove the container in a warm place (+20 ° C). After the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed, the temperature in the room is reduced to + 15 … 16 ° С.
If the seedlings have sprouted sparsely, you can do without a pick. It is enough to pour soil into the container to strengthen the roots. When thinning, beet sprouts are not thrown away, but transplanted into another container.
Beet seedlings are ready for transplanting after the appearance of two true leaves.
Manipulations for landing in open ground are carried out in cloudy weather. After the procedure, the seedlings are watered daily.
Seeds in open ground
Before sowing seeds in open ground, they are calibrated. Having poured out on a white sheet of paper, they select planting material of approximately the same size, rejecting damaged and too small specimens.
So that the seedlings germinate at the same time, the seeds are soaked for a day. Placed in a container, pour water, which is changed every 6-8 hours. When the planting material swells, it is recommended to place it in a container, where a growth stimulator is poured instead of water.
Depending on the purpose of growing Kestrel, furrows for sowing the root crop are made at a distance of 10 to 35 cm.
If the beets will be stored for storage, choose the maximum row spacing.
The furrows are filled with water, and when the liquid is absorbed, the planting material is laid out at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other. Sprinkle with soil on top, deepening the seeds by 2 cm.
Features of care
To get a good harvest of the Kestrel hybrid, you should take into account the specifics of the variety:
- Landing place. The planted area should be well lit. Beets do not like direct sunlight. The best predecessors are legumes, garlic and carrots.
- The soil. The soil should be breathable, nutritious and loose, so sandy soil will not work. Beet Kestrel F1 feels good if the acidity varies between 6,2-7 pH.
- Watering. An excess of moisture leads to the fact that root crops lose their sweetness. Therefore, the beds are irrigated no more than 1-2 times a week.
- Loosening. It is recommended to carry out the next day after watering. The procedure will saturate the soil with oxygen and prevent the formation of an earthen crust. Hilling should be carried out once every three weeks, adding soil around the bush.
- Mulching. Allows you to keep the soil moist for a long time. You can use straw, peat or sawdust.
- Top dressing. Fertilize Kestrel 3-4 times per season. At the initial stage of growth, the hybrid needs nitrogen fertilizers. After that, organic matter should be given (infusion of mullein with water in a ratio of 1: 8). Beetroot responds well to foliar feeding. In July, the beds are watered by dissolving 10 g of boric acid in 2 liters of water.
They start harvesting after the leaves on the bushes begin to turn yellow, dry and fall off.
Conclusion
Kestrel beets are suitable for conservation and long-term storage. Vegetables can be grown even by beginner gardeners. The root crops of the hybrid are valued for stable yields and high taste qualities.
Reviews of gardeners about beets Kestrel
