BEET

Beta vulgaris - For Plant Information, Cultivation and Seed Specs, see PLANT INFORMATION AND CULTIVATION below.

  Bull's Blood (35-55 days) Dark purple leaves are very pretty and make an interesting ornamental, but the roots are an excellent beet - very sweet with a dark red color.

#524  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-524  Bulk seed 4oz.   $10.50
#B1-524  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $28.50

  Chioggia (Bulls-eye) (55 days) This pretty Italian heirloom has alternating red and white rings. Round roots are sweet and mild, never tough. Leaves are also as cooked greens.

#209  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-209  Bulk seed 4oz.   $10.50
#B1-209  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $28.50

Crosby Egyptian (50-60 days) The "Old Reliable" of beets was introduced in 1869 by Boston resident Josiah Crosby. Large 3-4in. dark red beets and tall leaves. Stores well.

#210  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-210  Bulk seed 4oz.   $9.50
#B1-210  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $25.00

  Cylindra (60days)  Long dark red beets with dark green tops.  Good canning type.

#3960  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-3960  Bulk seed 4oz.   $7.50
#B1-3960  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $15.00

  Detroit Dark Red (60-70 days)  First sold in 1892, this variety has deep red flesh that remains sweet after cooking.   Excellent keeper.

#522  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-522  Bulk seed 4oz.   $7.50
#B1-522  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $13.50
#B1z-522G    Dried root powder   1oz.   $18.00
#B1lb-522G   Dried root powder   1lb    $25.00

Early Winder Tall (55 days) Slightly flattened red globes have a bunching habit. Height: 15-18inches

#9889  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-9889  Bulk seed 4oz. (Approximately 6,000 seeds)   $7.50
#B1-9889  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $16.50

Golden Globe (35-55 days) Bright golden round roots do not bleed and have a mild flavor.

#9880  Packet, $3.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-9880  Bulk seed 4oz. (Approximately 6,000 seeds)   $28.50
#B1-9880  Bulk seed 1 lb.   $68.50

Mangel Wurzel (110 days) These long red productive beets were valued as winter feed for farm animals, but they're an excellent food for people, too. Roots can weigh up to 20 pounds each and have a deep red skin and white flesh that contains a high sugar content.

#211 Packet, $3.50, Approximately 100 seeds

Sugar Beet (100 days) Huge 5lb red roots, up to 1ft. in length. High sucrose content used in commercial sugar production. The pulp is frequently used in animal fodder. Syrup made from grinding and pressing the roots is used in Germany in the same manner as honey in cooking - as a spread on bread, in making and sweetening sauces and desserts. Desugared molasses is used in the US is used with salt or alone to spread on roads for de-icing (it reduces corrosion and lowers the freezing temperature of the salt mix). Sugar beets are also beneficial as a cover crop. For best production, soil should be rich and loamy with the ability to retain moisture, worked deeply when first planted. Beets are heavy feeders and benefit from applications of fertilizer or manure during their growth cycle.

#9901       Packet, $10.50     Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-9901         Bulk seed 4oz. (Approximately 6,000 seeds)   $18.50
#B1-9901          Bulk seed 1 lb.   $40.50

White Albino (50 days) Gourmet white round roots. Very sweet with a high sucrose content.

#9902  Packet, $6.50, Approximately 200 seeds
#B4z-9902             Bulk seed 4oz.                (Approximately 6,000 seeds)   $27.50
#B1-9902              Bulk seed 1 lb.   $60.50

PLANT INFORMATION AND CULTIVATION
Beta vulgaris, or Beet is a herbaceous biennial or perennial plant belonging to the Amaranth family Amaranthaceae.  The modern garden beet's ancestor is Beta vulgaris ver. martima found growing wild in the maritime areas of southern Europe. There are several different types of beets, including mangel wurzels (grown for animal fodder), sugar beets (grown for their high sugar content), and beetroot (common garden beets).  A cultivar of beets is chard (or spinach chard). Plants are commly grown in the vegetable garden with all parts being edible.  Roots are eaten raw, cooked or pickled and the leaves are used as salad or cooked greens.  The roots vary in color and can range from white to deep red.  At maturity, the plants bloom bearing spiky inflorescences is groups of one to three. Blooms are red.

Beets prefer a light or loamy soil with a pH of 6.0.  Cool temperatures are best, so they are best planted in early spring or fall gardens.  Weather fluctuations will cause zoning or striping of red varieties.

Beets provide 44 calories per 100gram serving, 3.2% protein and 8.1% carbohydrate.  They also contain Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 and B2, and Niacin.

Beets have been used medicinally to treat fever, constipation,anemia, and as a breath freshener.  Red beet root juice is recommended by herbalists as a cancer treatment. White rooted varieties contain betaine, a substance that has been observed to promoted regeneration of liver cells and the metabolism of fat cells.  Red rooted varieties contain betanin, an anthocyanin found also in red wine that enhances the immune system.  A decoction from beet seed is used as a treatment for intestinal, leukemia and other forms of cancer.  Beet juice mixed with vinegar is used to treat dandruff and hair loss.

A dye is obtained from the roots of red varieties. The sugar beets are used to produce table sugar.

Propagation is easy from seed for transplants or direct.  FOR TRANSPLANTS:  Sow seed in pots or trays 5-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden.  Sow seed 1/2 inch deep.  Keep moist at 75-80F.  Transplant outdoors when all danger of heavy frost has passed.  Space seedlings 3-6 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart.  DIRECT SOW: Sow seeds in prepared area, 15 seeds per foot in rows 12-18 inches apart.  It is not necessary to thin seedlings.  Make sowings every 2 weeks for baby beets. 

HARVEST and STORAGE:  Lift roots, wash and cool.  Store bunches in a cool place for up to 10 days at 35F 95% relative hunidity.  For winter storage, plant beet seed about 10 weeks prior to the first heavy freeze.  Cut tops and wash, then store at 35F and 95% humidity for up to 6 months.

SEED SPECS:  Average 35000 seeds per pound; SEEDING RATE: 1,000 seeds per 65ft.,  436,000 seeds per acre at 15 seeds/ft and 18 inches between rows

There is great diversity in the beet varieties that we offer; which makes the general information provided only valuable as adjustable guidelines. This may also affect your seed planting and propagation strategies and the germination rates under your planting conditions may vary from the seed lot test results. The following soil temperature data is for beets in general. Temperatures are average daytime from planting to emergence. Percentage is average germination rate. Days is number of days to emergence.
32ºF x 0% x 0 days; 41ºF x 53% x 42 days; 50ºF x 72% x 17 days; 59ºF x 88% x 10 days; 68ºF x 90% x 6 days; 77ºF x 97% x 5 days; 86ºF x 89% x 5 days; 95ºF x 35% x 5 days; 104ºF x 0% x 0 days;

 
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