MSH-102 (hybrid types)
A stand-in for private-company F1 hybrid beetroots, grown by larger commercial and processing farmers for very uniform, high-yielding roots. The name MSH-102 does not appear in any seed company's catalogue, so confirm the exact hybrid with your dealer.
Quick facts
- Type
- Hybrid
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- ~80–95 days
- Seed rate
- Hybrid seed sown at a somewhat lower rate than open-pollinated types — confirm the exact rate on the seed packet
- Expected yield
- 30–40 t/ha
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- Varies by hybrid; generally good vigour and field tolerance
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
MSH-102 stands here for the F1 hybrid beetroots that private seed companies sell to larger commercial and processing farmers. The name is not in any seed company's catalogue, so what follows describes the hybrid type and not one named product. Hybrids give very uniform, round roots with strong internal colour and higher yields than the open-pollinated standards. That suits a farmer supplying a processor or a large retail buyer who wants a steady grade. The seed costs more, and because it is a hybrid it must be bought new every season and cannot be saved.
Should you pick this variety?
Choose a hybrid beet like this only if a buyer pays for uniform roots and you can afford new seed each season. Hybrid types are listed at 30 to 40 t/ha in 80 to 95 days, against 25 to 30 t/ha for Detroit Dark Red. The name MSH-102 does not appear in any seed company's catalogue, so confirm the exact hybrid, company and packet details with your dealer before you pay. Do not choose a hybrid for a small plot or if you want to save seed. Detroit Dark Red costs less.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeSeptember to November in the northern plains; October to December further south
- Seed rateHybrid seed sown at a somewhat lower rate than open-pollinated types — confirm the exact rate on the seed packet
- SpacingRows 30–45 cm apart; thin to 8–12 cm between plants
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Very uniform, high-yielding, round roots
- Suits contract supply to processors and large retail buyers
- Generally good vigour and field tolerance
Things to consider
- Hybrid seed costs more and must be bought fresh every season — cannot be saved
- Choice of exact hybrid varies by company and season; confirm current local availability
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Punjab
Five questions to put to the seed dealer before you pay for hybrid beet seed
A hybrid seed is only as good as the label behind it, and we could not match the name MSH-102 to a catalogue. So ask the five questions below, and walk away if the dealer cannot answer them.
One: what is the hybrid's brand name and which company bred it? Two: how many days to harvest, and for which season and region was it tested? Three: what seed rate and spacing does the packet give, and what germination percentage is printed with the test date? Four: is there a batch number, a packing date and a sealed pack? Five: who is the company's field officer, and will they visit if the crop is uneven?
Write the answers on the bill, keep the empty packet until the crop is sold, and sow a small test strip a week early. Hybrids are listed at 30 to 40 t/ha in 80 to 95 days, but that range is for the type, not a promise from any one seller. The packet's own figures, and your test strip, are what you plan on.
Where the planting material comes from
This is a hybrid, so seed kept from your own harvest will not breed true. The next crop comes up uneven in height, maturity and yield. Buy fresh certified seed every season and keep the bag tag until harvest.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Beetroot (Chukandar) variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Globe | Farmers who want a quick main-crop beet with crimson flesh and no ring-zoning | ~55–60 days (TNAU) | Best plot 31.7 t/ha marketable in a Gujarat trial (30 October sowing, 30 x 15 cm) | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar |
| Crosby Egyptian | Farmers who need a very quick beet to fill a gap between crops or to start a staggered sowing | ~55–60 days (TNAU) | No variety figure published (25–30 t/ha is the general beetroot figure) | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana |
| Detroit Dark Red | Farmers who want one safe, widely available main-crop beetroot with deep red flesh | ~80–100 days (TNAU) | 25–30 t/ha | Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana |
| Early Wonder | Farmers near a city who can sell roots tied with their tops as a bunching beet | ~55–60 days | No variety figure published (25–30 t/ha is the general beetroot figure) | Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi |
| MSH-102 (hybrid types)this page | Larger commercial and processing farmers who need very uniform, high-yielding roots and will buy fresh seed every season | ~80–95 days | 30–40 t/ha | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab |
| Ooty 1 | Hill farmers in the Nilgiris and similar cool areas of Tamil Nadu who want a beet bred for their weather | ~120 days (TNAU) | ~28 t/ha (TNAU) | Tamil Nadu |
| Ruby Queen | Farmers who sell small, tender, sweet beets to the young-beet and salad trade | ~55–65 days | No variety figure published (25–30 t/ha is the general beetroot figure) | Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Beetroot (Chukandar) is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Beetroot (Chukandar) plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Germination CalculatorTest 100 seeds from the bag before sowing and see whether the lot is fit to sow.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Beetroot (Chukandar) variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Beetroot (Chukandar) into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop CalendarMonth-by-month sowing, weeding, irrigation and harvest dates for Beetroot (Chukandar) in your state.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Beetroot (Chukandar) rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Beetroot (Chukandar) seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is MSH-102?
MSH-102 is not in any seed company catalogue or official list, so treat the name as a stand-in for private-company F1 hybrid beetroots in general. So do not ask the dealer only for MSH-102. Ask for the hybrid's brand name, the company, the days to harvest and the seed rate printed on the packet, and judge the seed on those.
Can I save seed from a hybrid beet?
No. Seed from an F1 hybrid does not come true, so the next crop would be uneven in size, colour and days to harvest, which is the opposite of why you bought a hybrid. Beet is also a biennial, so seed saving would take a second season anyway. Budget for fresh seed every season, and for a new batch if the packet runs short.
Is the extra seed cost worth it?
Do the sum on your own prices. Hybrids are listed at 30 to 40 t/ha and Detroit Dark Red at 25 to 30 t/ha, a gain of 5 to 10 t/ha. Multiply that gain by your selling price a tonne and subtract the extra seed cost and any extra grading. If the result is small, or a buyer is not paying for uniformity, the open-pollinated seed is the better buy.
What seed rate and spacing do I use for a hybrid?
Hybrid seed is sown at a somewhat lower rate than open-pollinated types, so follow the packet. Keep rows 30 to 45 cm apart and thin the plants to 8 to 12 cm. TNAU's figure of about 6 kg a hectare is for beetroot in general, not for hybrids. If the packet and these figures disagree, follow the packet and ask the company's field officer.
What should I agree with a processor before I sow?
Agree in writing the root size range, the colour standard, the delivery weeks and the price, and ask what happens to roots outside the size range. A hybrid suits contract supply to processors and large retailers who want a consistent grade. A contract with no size range leaves you carrying the risk if the roots come out larger or smaller than the buyer expected.
Sourced from: Beet root (Beta vulgaris) — TNAU Agritech Portal, Horticulture, Beet root: origin, varieties, package of practices — TNAU eAgri HORT 281, Lecture 30. editorial policy.