“…Strong and healthy foliage with an upright architecture is therefore critically important to facilitate harvesting. Table beet root yield and sizes are strongly influenced by cultivar (Goldman & Navazio, 2008), disease management (Chancia et al, 2021; Khan et al, 1992; Pethybridge et al, 2017; Shah & Stivers‐Young, 2004), plant populations (Benjamin, 1987; Benjamin et al, 1985; Benjamin & Bell, 1985; Goldman, 1995; Kikkert et al, 2010; Warne, 1953), light intensity (D'Egidio et al, 2019), light interception (Chancia et al, 2021; Saif et al, 2023) and plant nutrition (D'Egidio et al, 2019; Mampa et al, 2017). However, despite optimization of agronomic inputs (Kikkert et al, 2010; Shah & Stivers‐Young, 2004), in‐field variation can result in a substantial proportion of roots that do not fall within the acceptable size range for processing.…”