F1 Fortune

Crop Name	Beetroot
Hybrid Name	F1 Fortune
Segment	Round
Plant Habit	Erect
Maturity Period	60–65 days
Characteristics	• Uniform round shaped roots with smooth exterior and uniform size. • Deep red interior and exterior root color with very light zoning. • High yielding variety. • Excellent heat tolerance. • Suitable for fresh and processing market.
Average Root Weight	200–250 gms
Climate & Season	Cool to moderately warm season
Sowing Window	Winter sowing: Oct–Nov, Rainy Sowing: June–Aug, Summer Sowing: March–April
Focused Market	MP, WB, KA, MH, TN, BHR

Parameter

Description

Scientific Name

Beta vulgaris

Hybrid

F1 Fortune

Soil

Deep red loamy soils with good drainage also suited in laterite soils with soil pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Land Preparation

Ploughing the soils 2-3 times, make fine tilth with rotavator and apply recommended FYM at time of ploughing.

Spacing

Manual broadcasting or seed dibbling, maintain spacing of 30×10 cm.

Climate

Cool to moderately warm season with a temperature range of 18–23°C required to obtain good quality roots.

Season

Winter Sowing	Oct–Nov
Rainy Sowing	Jun–Aug
Summer Sowing	Mar–Apr

Seed Rate

Broadcasting requires 8–10 kg/ha
Seed dibbling requires 6–7 kg/ha (depends on spacing and method)

Fertilizers & Manures

Type	Quantity	Notes
FYM	20 tons/ha
Nitrogen (N)	120 kg/ha	Full dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O and half dose of N applies as basal, remaining half of N as top dressing during vigorous growth stage. Avoid excess N to prevent root cracking.
Phosphorus (P₂O₅)	160 kg/ha
Potassium (K₂O)	100 kg/ha

Irrigation

Enough soil moisture required for uniform germination. Irrigate every 4–5 days in summer and every 10–12 days during rainy season.

Weed Control

Manual weeding

Special Crop Practices

Hand thinning to remove excess plants necessary for uniform root development.

Diseases

Disease	Symptoms & Control Measures
Rhizomania	Caused by Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus (BNYVV) leading to elongation of crown region and stunted bulb growth causing significant yield loss. Control: Use resistant varieties, crop rotation.
Cercospora Leaf Spot	Circular spots on leaves which spread on leaf cause defoliation of foliage. Control: Hexaconozole 5% EC (2ml/L), Azoxystrobin 23%SC (1ml/L), Mancozeb 63% + Carbendazim 12% WP (1g/L).
Downy Mildew	Greyish areas on leaves turn white and shrivel cause defoliation Control: Metalaxyl 8% + Mancozeb 64% WP (2g/L).
Rhizoctonia	Horizontal cracking of roots leading to rotting and other secondary fungal infections Control: Carbendazim @ 1g/L.

Pests

Pest	Symptoms & Management
Beet Leaf Miner	Maggots feed on epidermal layers of leaf cause mines on leaves appears silver yellow controlled by Thimethoxam 25 WG (0.25g/L)
Darkling or Rove Beetle	Eat the leaves of plant cause leaf damage controlled by Klingocide elite 50 EC @ 0.5 ML / ltr, Quinalphos 25 % EC @ 2 ml / ltr
Aphids	Suck the sap from lower leaves of plant cause misshapen of leaf controlled by Acephate 75% SP (1g/L), Imidacloprid @ 0.25 ml /ltr
Leaf Hopper	Suck the sap from leaves of plant cause misshapen of leaf controlled by Klingocide elite 50 EC @ 0.5 ML / ltr

Harvesting

The crop will be ready for harvest after 60-65 days after sowing, harvesting can be done manually by pulling out each bulb from the soil or by mechanical harvester. The root bulbs have to be washed with water to get rid of soil debris and other infections. Grading can be done based on market requirement.

Yield

25–30 tons/ha