Beetroot juice, either on its own or in combination with carrots and apples, is an extremely common and popular health tonic concoction available at juice outlets. The drink is especially sought after by athletes, health conscious individuals and those who are eager to control different parameters of their blood reports. Apart from its red-coloured juice, beetroots offer a variety of health benefits, making them extremely popular among gardeners as well.

When purchasing beetroot seeds, there are a variety of options to choose from. Round and oval-shaped beets can be produced with the commonly available two types of seeds. There are other options too, such as those which produce beets with long and cylindrical roots, or those that produce an array of beetroot colours, albeit with subtle changes in shade. Irrespective of the shape, size and colour of the beets being grown, the health benefits of this underground root remain manifold.

Beets are considered one of the best and most inexpensive sources of antioxidants, potassium and nitrates.

Therefore, these not only help to reduce inflammation in the body after any fatigue-causing activities and exercises, but also improve overall stamina. They reduce overall blood pressure, while also helping to improve the flow of blood, making it more available to the muscles.

The overall health benefits of regular consumption of beetroots are evident in improvements in heart health, bone health, immunity, dermatological aspects and the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

The vegetable is low in calories and contains almost all the basic nutrients in reasonable quantities, inclusive of vitamins and minerals. It should come as no surprise that beetroot powder is commercially sold to be used for supplementing one`s health.

The column last week discussed that, at the time of sowing, beetroot seeds need a specific temperature range of around 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.Regardless of whether one is sowing it in a raised bed, open ground, container or any other place, the seeds should be sown with a distance of at least one foot on either side, to give enough space for the plants to grow.

Depending upon conditions and weather, and with high-quality input of seeds and soil, the seedlings are likely to pop out in around one week to 10 days. The germination time may sometimes increase to two weeks, if the seeds are not the best fit for the zone where they are being grown. As soon as the seeds start to germinate, it is time to remove the covers from atop the container. The container should now be shifted back to the location where it is exposed to direct sunlight.

With a minimum required sunlight exposure of at least four to six hours it is best if the seedlings are exposed to six hours of direct sunlight exposure for a newly developed beetroot seedling, the soil surface begins to dry off quickly. The watering requirement, therefore, also increases with sunlight exposure. Watering should be done in a manner that no water gets accumulated over the surface and it is certainly not left behind near the roots. The water should easily get absorbed and drained from the soil, otherwise there are high chances of root rot, which can be lethal for this underground root plant.

Watering should not be carried out directly over the seedling, as it can damage it. It should be done on one side of the container or via misting. It is also critical that the soil remains wet throughout the seedling stage and the young seedlings do not have to face any unwanted dry spells.

During the early stage of the plant life cycle, there is minimal requirement of fertiliser boosting. However, it is suggested to supplement the soil with an organic, nitrogen-rich fertiliser after three weeks of the germination of the seeds. Any decomposed manure can be used during this stage.

The seedlings are also susceptible to birds, which may chomp these up to satisfy their hunger and thirst. Installing a green net, hanging sunlight-reflecting CDs or erecting a scarecrow can shoo away the unwanted guests. Once the seedlings enter the sapling stage, there is a significant reduction in the risk associated with birds to the growth of the beetroot plant.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel `DocTree Gardening` promoting organic kitchen gardening