When the radicle (new root) begins to develop, remove seeds and plant in garden soil. Check the germination rate after 5-7 days. Use an appropriate pesticide, or pick off pests by hand. Roll up the paper towel, place it in a plastic bag with some holes and set it on top of the refrigerator. Pests usually are identified by ragged holes left when they feed on leaves.

Insect pests: Watch for leaf miners, leafhoppers, flea beetles, aphids, and caterpillars.Root rot can be minimized by keeping your garden weed-free and by avoiding overwatering. Root rot tends to appear in cycles two or three disease-free years might be followed by a bad season where many plants are affected. Root rot: Usually caused by the Fusarium fungus, root rot causes the above-ground foliate to wilt, as though in need of water, while the underground roots begin to rot away.At the first sign of infection, apply a fungicide. To prevent, rotate crops every two to three years. Fungal infections: Similar to bacteria, fungal infections cause small brown or gray spots to cover the leaves.Combat viruses by planting resistant varieties and fighting leafhoppers with pesticides. Viral infections: Various viruses, often transmitted by leafhopper insects, can cause twisted, distorted leaves.Do not plant beets in garden space previously occupied by potatoes. Affected plants should be removed, and rotate crops the next season. Bacterial infections: A variety of soil bacteria can cause discolored spots on leaves, which can gradually infect the roots.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board Sugar beets are susceptible to a number of seedling diseases that can occur as seed rots, preemergence and postemergence damping-off, or postemergence.IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides. Plant shallowly to encourage quick seedling emergence and growth.Do not plant in soils known to be infested with damping-off fungi.Fertilize by placing a band of phosphate fertilizer 1″ beneath the seed, covering with soil, then seeding rows.Plant in warm, well-drained soils during warm, dry weather.Select non-chemical management options as your first choice! Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management. The smallest average maximum diameters of 11.3 cm and 11.5 cm were noted in the systems where the soil was cultivated at depths of 20 and 25 cm. Damping-off fungi are more of a problem in cold soils with poor drainage, and in conjunction with overwatering. The soil cultivation systems did not differ significantly in the diameter of sugar beet roots. Plants become more resistant to attack as they mature. Seed can be treated with the appropriate fungicide before planting. Control: The importance of damping-off control in beets is often overlooked. Water-soaked or brownish lesions are often visible on the stem at the soil line. Fungi attack seedlings at soil level causing them to topple over, or attack seeds following planting which causes seed decay and poor stands. Emerged seedlings are also attacked, causing them to wilt and topple over. Seedlings may be infected and fail to emerge from the soil. Infected seeds decay without germinating. Damping-off is caused by fungi that remain in the soil for long periods of time.

Beet seedlings decay at soil line