This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。

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.
甜菜是一种美味的根类蔬菜，在菜园子里不用过多照料。人们可能以为甜菜都是暗红色的，但它们也有粉红色、黄色和白色。内部红白相间的甜菜被称为“棒棒糖”或糖纹甜菜。

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.
甜菜富含叶酸、铁、纤维等营养物质。可以生吃或冷冻、罐装或腌制。甜菜不但根部，头部也可以食用。甜菜幼嫩时其叶子是良好的沙拉食材，甜菜成熟后叶子可以煮着吃。

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.
甜菜喜好16-18摄氏度的凉爽气候，在日照充足和松软但不太潮湿的土壤里生长得最好。

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.
土地备耕时先除掉土壤中的石块，在添加石灰和肥料前先检测土壤。一些专家表示，甜菜最好用低氮肥料，土壤酸度在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.
种植季节开始时，只要土壤适宜就可以种甜菜了。每隔2到3周种一轮甜菜，就能保持秋天连续收获。

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.
爱荷华州立大学园艺专家Cindy Haynes建议播种时深度略大于1厘米，行距间隔30到46厘米之间。

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.
一颗甜菜种子的果实里包含几颗种子。种得太密就意味着其根部无法伸展和成长。通过间苗把较小的甜菜拔除，这些拔下来的甜菜可以作为绿色蔬菜食用。

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表示，土壤肥沃就只需少量或不施肥。但她建议在雨季或旱季期间，一旦播种就要用少量护根物覆盖以保护土壤。她还建议在土地四周扎上篱笆以防止兔子和小鹿。

She says the only work needed once beets have been thinned is weeding and, when the weather is dry, a weekly watering.
她表示一旦甜菜间苗后，就只需要除草，天气干燥时就每周浇一次水。

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.
甜菜直径为4到5公分时是最佳收获时机。再大一点的甜菜就太硬了，需要煮很长时间。