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James H. Schutte
Chenopodiaceae
BETA vulgaris 'Detroit Dark Red'
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 lots of seed that can be saved from year to year. Beets originate from Europe where they have been cultivated for hundreds of years.
This is a cool season vegetable that can be grown in two seasonal cycles, if the growing season is four or more months long. For a spring harvest, sow seeds in the garden in early spring, thin them so they are approximately five-inches apart and harvest in early summer. For a fall harvest, sow seeds in late summer and harvest roots before the first frost of autumn.
Grow beets in full sun and fertile, friable garden soil. It is best to berm up the soil where they are grown to ensure the roots have lots of loose, well-drained soil. They require regular water and light fertilization. The seeds germinate more quickly if soaked in warm water for 30 minutes before planting.
Beets are especially popular in Northern European and Russian cooking because they grow best in cooler northern regions. They taste great pickled, roasted, sautéed or added to soups, like borscht, and salads. Beet leaves can also be cooked and eaten as a green.
12 - 1
6 - 10
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
6"-12" / 15.2cm - 30.5cm
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Europe, Russia/Siberia
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Very Fast
Average Water
Rosette/Stemless
Spring, Summer, Fall
Insignificant
Red, Green
Tan
Red, Dark Green
No
Yes
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
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