VOA慢速英语:In the Garden: Growing Beets

Beets are a tasty root vegetable that do not require much work in the garden. People might think beets are always dark red. But they can also be pink, yellow or white. Beets with circles of red and white inside are known as candy cane or candy stripe beets.
甜菜是一种味甜的根状蔬菜，易种植。人们通常认为甜菜总是深红色的，事实上也可能是粉红、黄色或白色。内有红色和白色切面圆环的甜菜被认为是糖果藤条或斑纹甜菜。

Beets are high in nutrients including folate, iron and fiber. They can be eaten fresh or frozen, canned or pickled. And not just the root but also the tops can be eaten. The leaves make good salads when the plants are young, and the greens can be cooked when the plants are older.
甜菜富含各种营养：叶酸、铁和纤维。可以新鲜着吃，也可以冷冻了吃，也做罐头或腌制。根部可以吃，顶部也可以吃。叶子嫩时可以做很好的沙拉，绿的时候可以烹调用。

Beets like cool temperatures, between sixteen and eighteen degrees Celsius. They grow best in full sun and in loose soil that is not too wet.
甜菜是喜冷植物，适宜在16到18摄氏度间生长。在完全光照和松散不太湿的土壤中生长良好。

Remove stones from the soil while preparing the ground. And test the soil before adding lime and fertilizer. Some experts say the best fertilizers for beets are low in nitrogen. Beets need the acidity level in the soil to be six to seven and a half.
耕地前应清理土壤中的石块，追加石灰和肥料前应做土壤测试。一些专家说对甜菜而言最好的肥料应含较低的氮。甜菜需要的土壤酸度应在6到7.5之间。

Beet seeds can be planted as soon as the soil is able to be worked at the start of the growing season. Planting them every two to three weeks will provide a continuous harvest into the fall.
适合甜菜生长的季节一到就应该开始种植，每两或三周种植一次可以确保一个连续丰收的秋季。

Iowa State University horticulture specialist Cindy Haynes suggests planting the seeds a little more than one centimeter deep. They should be planted in rows that are spaced thirty to forty-six centimeters apart.
爱荷华州大学园艺学专家Cindy Haynes建议种子应埋在1.25公分的深度。成排种植，每排间距30到46公分。

A beet seed is a fruit containing several seeds. Overcrowding the plants will mean that the roots cannot spread out and grow. Thin the beets by removing the smaller ones. These can be used as greens.
最好的种子应是包含几种籽的果实，过于稠密意味着根部不能展开完全生长，剔除瘦小的苗，用来做青菜吃。

Cindy Haynes says little or no fertilizer is needed in fertile soils. But once the seeds are planted, she does suggest covering the soil with a little mulch to protect it during rains and dry periods. She also suggests putting a fence around the plants to keep away rabbits and deer.
Cindy Haynes说肥沃的土壤只需要少量或无需肥料。但是一旦种了下去，她建议用多一点的肥料来掩盖以防止雨季或干旱时受伤害。她也建议在作物周围安上篱笆防止兔子和鹿的践踏。

She says the only work needed once beets have been thinned is weeding and, when the weather is dry, a weekly watering.
她说剔除多余的幼苗之后唯一应做的就是除草，天旱时每周浇一次水。

For best results, beets should be picked when they are four to five centimeters across. Beets much larger than that can be tough and have to be cooked for a long time.
甜菜最好在根茎圆周2.5公分时采摘，过大的甜菜会咬不动，而且要煮很长时间。