BERTIE 2000
	The original concept of BERTIE 2000 was to provide information on the growth of a typical sugar beet plant here at Broom's Barn via weekly reports and photos. However, as interest grew and the media publicity increased, BERTIE 2000 became a star. It's progress was followed by Radio Suffolk, and when it was time to harvest him there were several reports in the local press and radio. BERTIE was harvested on 4th October. This worthy plant produced enough sugar to fill 79 sachets of sugar. His impressive statistics are:- Root Yield 2.01 kg Sugar % 15.76

		4th October 2000
	Click for larger image	Mike May and Stephen Goward hold Bertie up to a gallery of eager reporters and photographers
	Bertie alongside a tiny seed between Mike's fingers (take our word for it) - illustrating perfectly the rapid rate of growth over seven months		Click for larger image
	Click for larger image	Oh well, it had to come - the moment Bertie lost his top
		11 September.
	The powdery mildew mentioned below was kept well under control in the field by our farm team and so bertie is still in good shape. Some of his leaves are looking a little yellow, due to a slight infection with beet mild yellowing virus (spread by aphids). However, considering that some nearby plants are more severely infected, he has escaped lightly.		Click for larger image
		20 July.
	Click for larger image	The reason for the 'cool' look? Well, having featured on Radio Suffolk yesterday bertie feels like a celebrity. He is in good health and there seems little reason to believe he will not survive until harvest, though we are expecting powdery mildew to arrive in the field within the next week or two.
		3 July.
	The lack of rain in June seems not to have slowed down bertie's growth. He is touching leaves with his neighbours and looks very healthy. Some of his friends in the field are looking a little yellow due to attack by capsid bug but bertie has escaped its attentions. However, he is supporting a small colony of black aphids.		Click for larger image
		13 June.
	Click for larger image	One of the older leaves is now showing signs of senescence.
		7 June.
	Rapid growth continues in the warm weather and bertie will soon be shaking leaves with a neighbouring beet plant just starting to appear in the picture.		Click for larger image
		2 June.
	Click for larger image	Bertie is fortunate not to have suffered further at the teeth of hungry hares and has recovered well from the damage inflicted last week.
		25 May.
	Bertie has been nibbled! It would seem that our reference to hares last week was rather prophetic.		Click for larger image
		18 May.
	Click for larger image	In one week bertie's true leaves have doubled in number. He should now be big enough to survive attack by insect pests though the wood pigeons and hares, which are plentiful on the farm, could still cause him problems.
		11 May.
	This week bertie's field was sprayed with herbicide.		Click for larger image
		4 May.
	Click for larger image	The warm weather over the May Bank holiday allowed bertie's first true leaves to unfold and expand, and even prompted the appearance of his next pair. It would appear that our farm manager has accidentally dropped some of his hard-earned wages.
		25 April. (77.9 day degrees since previous photo)
	The weather over Easter was better than forecast and bertie's first true leaves have grown considerably. However, the cotyledons and true leaves show some effects of hail and wind.		Click for larger image
		18 April. (47.4 day degrees since previous photo)
	Click for larger image	Although temperatures have been below normal bertie has still been able to produce his first true leaf buds.
		10 April.
	45.2 day degrees above 0degC in previous week.		Click for larger image