Aspicard

Aspicard is a high-quality sugar beet with cylindrical roots and large tubers weighing about 700 grams. The plant has a medium maturation period and a vegetation period of up to 120 days. The tuber has a smooth surface, which facilitates harvesting, as less soil adheres to it. The leaf rosette is semi-erect, with moderately corrugated leaf blades of medium size. The root system is taprooted, penetrating to a depth of 2–2.5 meters, ensuring good water absorption and resistance to drought and cold.

Sugar beet Aspicard is warm-loving and heat-tolerant, with an optimal growth temperature of 20–22°C; however, photosynthesis occurs efficiently even at temperatures above 40°C. The plant is particularly demanding in terms of water during the intensive growth period of the tubers in July–August. Due to its well-developed root system, the beet can withstand drought by absorbing water from deep soil layers. Water deficiency may lead to an increase in nitrogen content in the tubers.

To achieve high yields, Aspicard requires quality and timely feeding. The bulk of mineral fertilizers is applied in autumn under plowing, including superphosphate with microelements (boron, zinc), potassium fertilizers, ammonium nitrate, and magnesium sulfate. Universal fertilizers containing boron are recommended at sowing. Special attention is paid to the application of microelements, especially boron, during two critical growth stages. Due to its resistance to diseases such as cercosporosis, powdery mildew, and root rot, Aspicard is widely used in the food industry for sugar and molasses production, as well as in culinary applications for borscht and kvass, and as a fodder crop.