Figuring out what’s bugging your beets

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Since I eat a lot of beets, I planted a fair number of them this year. The only problem is, my first batch has issues with leaves turning brown and dying. To ensure I have plenty of beets to enjoy, I had to do my homework to figure out what might be happening to them. Although I’ve never had many issues with growing beets over the years, there can be some significant pest and disease problems. Here are potential reasons for my beat-up looking beets: 

Watering issues

I really think this is the problem in my particular situation. We’ve had decent rain this spring so I think I took it for granted. The bed dried out faster than I thought on multiple occasions. Water stress is a big reason for mis-colored and crispy leaves. 

Verticillium wilt

This is my runner-up for what could be wrong with the beets. Some of the classic symptoms are straw colored leaves that twist and wilt. And while the leaves are definitely straw-colored and dry, subsequent leaves are not coming out this way. If this was truly a wilt issue, I believe more of the plants would be affected. It seems as the beets are growing larger, and I am watering more consistently, that fewer of them have the dried leaves. If this was truly Verticillium wilt, which is caused by a fungus, I would have to treat the beets with the fungicide and be sure not to plant them in this area again next year.

Curly top virus

Another disease that might resemble what is happening is curly top virus, which is a virus transmitted by leafhoppers and is common with tomatoes, beans, beets, and sometimes even peppers and potatoes. The best remedy for this is prevention, so many organic gardeners like to use Neem oil to keep the leaf hoppers away from the plants. But since my beets looked dry early in the season, well before any pest pressure, I ruled this one out early.

Aphids

Beets are equally susceptible to aphids, as are pretty much all plants in the garden, although it is the peach and the turnip aphids that seem to like beets the best. (And yes, there are many, many varieties of aphids!) As with any plant that is plagued by these little juice suckers, wash them off with the water as the initial means of attack. If this doesn’t work go to a horticultural soap and be merciless, scrubbing them off with your fingers if necessary.

Flea beetles

If it appears like there are tiny, jumping dots all around your beets, it’s not your eyesight… it’s most likely flea beetles. These are very tiny, shiny black beetles that chew holes in the foliage of your beets ( as well as spinach and other leafy vegetables). They can actually cause your beet greens to wilt and die if they are not kept in check. Prevention is the best but by covering your crops with a floating recover. If you are past that time you can use diatomaceous earth or Neem oil to help eliminate them. At the end of the season be sure to remove all the debris and cultivate the area to prevent the larvae from overwintering. Theoretically next year they shouldn’t as much of an issue. However, if you had them this season be proactive but using floating row covers and set out the sticky traps.

Blister beetles

Blister beetles are something out of a horror movie because they come in in large amounts, usually dozens of the time, and go to work devouring your plants. I had them on my beets years ago, but because I was pregnant I didn’t want to use any chemicals to kill them. I resorted to sucking them all up with the Shop-Vac. This works great, especially since you really don’t want to touch them. They live up to their name and release a chemical that can cause burns and blistering.

I hope this helps other gardeners gain a better understanding of what might be happening to their own precious beets. For the most part there an easy crop to grow, and are so incredibly good for us. I hope that everybody has a successful harvest and can avoid these common issues. 

Meet Amy Grisak

Amy is a freelance author and photographer in Great Falls, MT who specializes in gardening, foods, and sustainable agriculture. She provides information on every kind…

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