Beetroots

Beetroot is also known as “garden beet”. It is sweet in taste and is healthy having antioxidant properties. It has medicinal values i.e. it is used to cure cancer and heart diseases. It can be grown easily.

Beets are adapted to grow in cool temperatures, making them a perfect vegetable to plant both in spring and late summer. They thrive when the days are warm (60 to 70 degrees) and nights are cool (50 to 60 degrees). They may go to seed if temperatures drop below 50 degrees for an extended period. Sow the seeds in full sun for the best roots; if you don’t have a sunny spot in your garden, plant them anyway — beets still produce a lot of leafy greens in partial shade.

The best Beet Varieties are:

  • Heirloom Favorite
  • Great for Storage
  • Yellow Heirloom
  • Heat- and Disease-Resistant
  • Cold-Tolerant
  • Great for Greens

Nomenclature

Botanical Name Beta vulgaris
Family Amaranthaceae
Genus Beta
Species vulgaris
Types Burpee Golden, Chioggia, Detroit Dark Red, Mini Ball

Planting Guide

Flowers

Flower Color: Green, Insignificant
Flower Inflorescence: Spike
Flower Description: Green, non-showy spikes of flowers in the plant’s second year. Spikes can rise as tall as 4′.

Fruits

Fruit Color: Dark purplish red
Plant Type: Annual, Cool Season Vegetable, Edible, Vegetable

Leaves

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics: Deciduous
Leaf Color: Green, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy
Leaf Value To Gardener: Edible, Showy
Leaf Type: Simple
Leaf Arrangement: Rosulate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Hairs Present: No

Collect Seeds

Beets are similar to carrots and other root vegetables in that they do not flower and set seed until their second year of growth. In the beet’s second season, wait to the greens of the beets have completely gone brown. Cut off the top 4” of the plant and store in a cool, dry place for 4 weeks to allow the seeds to ripen. The seed can then be stripped off the dry foliage or pounded in a bag to release the seed. Store the seed in a paper envelope, bag or jar in a cool, dry place. Seeds may be viable for up to two years.

Harvest  

Beets take around 55 to 70 days after planting to mature. You can start harvesting beet greens once the plants reach around 3 to 4 inches tall, or harvest beets about 2 months after planting.

Soil Texture High Organic Matter
Soil Drainage Good Drainage , Moist
Soil Chemistry

9.5 pH of the soil

Cultivation

Germination 5-12 days
Bloom over 3–4 weeks

Temperature (Climate)
Temperature 60 to 65 degrees F.
Light Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) or Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Health Benefits

✓ Beetroot can reduce high blood pressure
✓ Beetroot can help people with heart failure and heart disease
✓ Beetroot can help symptoms of long-term conditions like Diabetes, Dementia
✓ Beetroot helps you keep your weight in-check
✓ Eating beetroot maintains healthy potassium levels
✓ Fight inflammation throughout the body
✓ Beetroot strengthens your bones
✓ Beetroot maintains a healthy liver
✓ Beetroot can promote a healthy pregnancy
✓ Beet greens and beetroots are a great source of fiber
✓ Beetroot can help you exercise for longer
✓ Beetroot can help fight against cancer cells