Typical yield
20.0 t/ha
Varieties
1
Pest/Disease
3
Seasons
1
Profile
- Growth habit
- biennial
- Lifecycle (days)
- 70–120
- Primary uses
- Root vegetable
- Pollination
- wind
- Origin / distribution
- Temperate regions; widely grown in East African highlands
Environment
Climate
Temp optimal
12–22 °C
Rain optimal
400–700 mm/yr
Altitude
0–2600 m
Soil
pH optimal
6.2–7
Soil type
Loose sandy loam; stone-free; well-drained
Farmer Guide
Row spacing
40 cm
Plant spacing
10 cm
Depth
2 cm
Seed rate
6 kg/ha
Nursery days
Planting: Direct seed into fine, firm seedbed; thin to spacing for uniform roots.
Transplanting: Transplanting not typical; can cause forked roots.
Irrigation: Maintain consistent moisture; avoid stress during root bulking.
Fertigation: Where drip is used, split N applications lightly through early to mid growth.
Pest scouting: Scout for leaf spots and leaf miners; remove affected leaves; rotate fields.
Pruning/Training: Not required.
Harvest: Harvest at desired size before roots become woody; avoid damaging skins.
Postharvest: Shade-cure; store cool and humid; avoid desiccation to maintain firmness.
Nutrient Schedule
| # | Stage | DAP | Product | Rate | Targets (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basal | 0 | NPK 12-24-12 | 90 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | |
| 2 | Topdress | 30 | CAN 26% N | 60 kg/ha | N: —, P₂O₅: —, K₂O: — | Irrigate after application |
Nutrient Requirements
| Nutrient | Stage | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | Basal | 40 | kg/ha |
| P₂O₅ | Basal | 30 | kg/ha |
| K₂O | Basal | 40 | kg/ha |
| N | Topdress | 20 | kg/ha |
Images
| Name | Country | Maturity | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Dark Red | KE | 90 | Uniform round roots; deep color |
| Stage | Product | Rate (kg/ha) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basal | NPK 12-24-12 | 90 | |
| Topdress | CAN 26% N | 60 | Split if soils are light |
| Name | Type | Symptoms | Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf spot | disease | Spots on leaves reducing photosynthesis | Rotation; protectants as needed; remove infected leaves |
| Leaf miner | pest | Winding mines in leaves | Remove mined leaves; monitor; IPM controls |
| Root maggot | pest | Tunnels in roots; wilting | Covers at planting; rotation; sanitation |
| System | Typical | Min | Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| open-field | 20 | 12 | 35 |
| Country | Region | Planting | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE | Highlands | Feb–Apr | May–Jul |
| Country | Region | Suitability |
|---|---|---|
| KE | Highlands | High |
| TZ | Northern highlands | High |
| UG | Southwest highlands | High |