(Red Butterleaves, Red Cultivated Orache)

A cool-season annual originating in Asia but naturalized throughout much of the rest of the world, orache has long been cultivated for its nutritious, tasty, and attractive leaves. The variety rubra is known for its stunning red or purple leaves and stems. It has given rise to numerous showy-leaved cultivars.

Heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves with smooth or toothed margins line the upright unbranched stems. The leaves and stems have a luminous sheen when young. In hot weather stems...

(Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach)

Pretty in flower and with edible, spinach-like foliage, Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. This heat-tolerant native of India is perennial and fully evergreen where hardy and has densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and may require some management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, green stems of Malabar spinach readily twine around anything upright and are lined with rounded, heart-shaped leaves of a...

(Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach)

Red-stemmed and pretty in flower, red Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. Its tender leaves can be eaten like spinach and colorful stems add season-long interest. A native of India, Malabar spinach is a fully evergreen tender perennial with densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and often require management to keep them from overtaking supports.

The long, fleshy, reddish purple stems of red Malabar spinach readily twine around...

(Beet)

Best known for bright red color and sweet flavor, beets are true biennials that produce edible greens and sweet, bulbous roots only a couple of months after planting. They are European origin but enjoyed by many cultures worldwide. In the first year, they store lots of fuel in their large, fleshy, edible roots and then bloom in the second season. If subjected to high heat, plants may bolt in the first year. Their unimpressive flowers are borne in spikes along the floral stems. If allowed to mature,...

(Albino Beet, Beet)

You'll never have to worry about magenta juice stains from the Holland heirloom beet, 'Albino', which has pure white roots. Its super sweet roots also lack the earthy taste of most colorful beets. The fast-developing roots are ready for harvest only 50 days after sowing. Even when harvested large, they remain mild, sweet and tender. Its bright glossy green leaves are also edible and can be harvested when young and tender.

Though grown as annuals, beets are actually biennials, which means...

(Baby Ball Beet, Beet)

Small with smooth skin, 'Baby Ball' beets are sweet, red and perfect for pickling or cooking whole. The ideal harvest size is 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) in diameter. These beets develop quickly and may be harvested about 55 days after sowing. Their bright glossy greens are also edible and have red leaf stems. Early harvest when temperatures are cool will ensure a sweet, mild flavor while older, roots harvested in hot weather often develop a bitter flavor.

Usually grown as annuals, beets...

(Beet)

The colorful beet, ‘Bull’s Blood’, is an old time variety that's still popular today. Its roots are deep red and show concentric pink and red circles on the interior when cut across. This colorful root vegetable emits brilliant magenta-red juice that stains everything. It is a fine selection that produces firm, round, sweet roots quickly and early in the season (60-harvest days). For baby beets, harvest in 35 to 40 days. It also has lovely purple-red leaves that can be eaten.

Usually grown...

(Beet)

The candy cane beet, ‘Chioggia’, is an old-time Italian variety that's been popular since it was first introduced in the 1840s. Its roots are red and show concentric white and magenta-red circles on the interior when cut. This fine selection produces firm, round, sweet roots quickly, in around 60 harvest days. For baby beets, harvest in 35 to 40 days. It also has lovely green leaves with magenta leaf stems that can be eaten raw or cooked.

Usually grown as annuals, beets are true biennials,...

(Beet, Cylindra Beet)

An heirloom beet from Denmark, 'Cylindra' produces uniquely elongated, short, carrot-shaped roots. Because of their narrower roots, this beet may be grown in denser rows than the globe-shaped beets. Roots are ready to harvest from 46 to 80 days after sowing. If you desire more tender, "baby" beets harvest roots earlier. Even when 'Cylindra' roots grow larger, the skin is easy to peel and the flesh remains mild, sweet and tender.

Usually grown as annuals, beets are true biennials, which mean...

(Beet, Detroit Dark Red Beet)

Beets are wonderfully colorful root vegetables. Standard red-rooted forms, like ‘Detroit Dark Red’, have rich red roots with brilliant magenta juice that stains everything. This fine selection produces firm, round, sweet roots quickly and early in the season (60-harvest days).

Usually grown as annuals, beets are actually biennials, which means they generate large roots and lush foliage in the first year and flower, set seed and die in the second. The flowers are unimpressive but produce...