The modern beet as such was not apparently known in ancient times. There is a story that when the Greeks paid homage to Apollo they served him beetroots on a silver platter, but the first recorded specific reference to beets is in the third century in Rome. They were mentioned in 1390 in some old English cooking recipes. Beets are natives of Europe and North Africa and were originally found near the sea in southern Europe and around the coasts of the Mediterranean as far east as the Caspian Sea and Persia. The name beet comes from the fact that when the seed pods swell they look like the Greek letter beta.
About this Plant…
Family:
-Beta
Genus, species:
-vulgaris.
Suitable Climate
- Beets thrive in almost any climate, but where summers are hot – Zone 8 and warmer
- Grow them as a fall, late winter and early spring crop.
- Plant in Full sun.
Varieties
Albinia Verecunda, Brupee’s Golden, Cylindra, Detroit Little Ball, Detroit Lora, MacGregor’s Favorite, Mammoth Long, Monogram, Monopoly, Red Ace, Regala
Soil Conditions
Beets require light, well drained soil which has not been freshly manured, and open positions.
Planting Time
Seed should be sown in February or March and plants thinned to around 2 inches apart.
Sowing Instructions
| Germination Time | 8-10 days | |
| Depth of Seed | 1/2-1 inch | |
| Spacing of Plants | 3-4 inches | |
| Spacing of Rows | 12-18 inches | |
| Quantity | 1 package for 25 feet 1 ounce for 100 feet | |
| Vegetable Maturity Dates, Yields and Storage |
Vegetable Problems — Data is unavailble
Harvesting
Harvesting is simply a matter of pulling the beets out of the ground. When you remove the tops, leave an inch or two attached to the root so that it will not bleed. The early beets should be harvested when they are small, 1.5 inches in diameter or at the most not more than 2 inches. When they are any larger, the taste is undesired. The late beets are sometimes allowed to get as large as 3 inches in diameter and beets for storage are allowed to stay in the ground until just before heavy frost.
USDA Nutrient — Press link
Pressure Canning
Pack hot beets into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch headroom. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1/2 inch headroom. Adjust lids, and process in a pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure (240 F). Pints – 30 minutes, Quarts – 35 minutes
Freezing
Freeze only very young, tender beets, as the texture and flavor of larger ones change during freezing. Prepare as for canning. Chill and pack prepared beets into freezing containers, leaving 1/2 inch headroom if sliced or diced. No headroom is required for whole beets. Seal and freeze.
Storage
Late beets can be stored successfully during the winter under proper conditions. However they keep best at temps around freezing, and the temps should never exceed 40 F. Also they must be kept moist, with little air circulation. These conditions require a special storage room in the cellar or an outside storage room, or if neither is available an outside storage pit. The maximum storage period is 4-5 months.
Beet Links
Beets for Processing
Beet Question
Easy Gardening – Beets
Beet Facts
Beet Production
Home Garden Beet Production
Beet and Chard Problems
Vegetable Crops Hotline
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