MESA K-12 Schools Program. UC Davis/Sacramento State MESA Center Thanks You! As another year closes for the Sacramento Area Center, we would like to thank our teachers, UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, and most importantly our students. Many congratulations on another successful year.
Sugar beets are a root crop, and flourish in temperate climates where the growing season is about five months long. A mature sugar beet is about one foot long, weighs two to five pounds, and contains about 18% sucrose, which is concentrated in its taproot.
Sugar beets are primarily grown as a commercial crop, but are also well-suited to the home garden. They take up very little space in beds. The sugary roots can be used in vegetable dishes as well as in home wine and molasses production. The leafy tops are often added to feed for livestock and add necessary fiber to the animal's diet. Plant beets in the spring for a late summer or early autumn harvest. Prepare a well-drained bed for planting. Work the soil at least 10 inches deep to give the beet root plenty of room to grow. Work compost into the soil to raise the bed three inches to improve drainage if necessary. Sow the seeds after danger of frost has passed in the spring. Sow each seed one-half inch deep and cover loosely with soil.