VEGETABLE GARDENING 
248 
With careful, intelligent selection, superior types may 
be developed and maintained. 
The seed of the beet is really not a seed, but a fruit, 
usually containing several seeds and surrounded by a 
corky pericarp. These characteristics of the seed should 
be well understood by planters in order to sow properly. 
As each so-called seed may produce several plants, care 
must be exercised to avoid sowing too thickly. The 
corky covering requires a liberal and constant supply of 
moisture to insure germination. 
The soil must be well prepared. Fall plowing is often 
an advantage for the early crop. Smoothing harrows or 
other tools should be used until a fine and moist seed 
bed is ready for sowing. 
The early varieties are sown as soon in the spring as 
the ground can be prepared. From six to eight weeks 
are required for the roots to attain a marketable size. 
Under favorable conditions the early varieties are ready 
for market in the North by June 1. Succession plantings 
of oval and turnip-shaped beets may be made until the 
middle of August. Long and half-long varieties should 
be sown in May, as about five months are required for 
them to reach maturity. While the long types are used 
to a considerable extent, oval and turnip-shaped varie- 
ties are more popular as well as more profitable for the 
late crop, because they do not need to be sown until 
after the ground has produced one or two cash crops of other 
vegetables, and they are also preferred on the market. 
The distance between rows will depend mainly upon 
whether the cultivating is to be done with a hand wheel 
hoe or a horse cultivator. Twelve inches between the 
rows is the standard distance for wheel hoe cultivation, 
although many prefer about 15 inches. When horses are 
to be used, the spacing varies from 24 to 30 inches. A 
very successful grower allows only 18 inches between 
rows and cultivates with a small mule. 
