Your Comprehensive Guide to Growing a Variety of Beets at Home

Beets can be quite controversial. Some people love them, while others are reminded of the canned, pickled beetroot slices popular in the early 1980s. This versatile vegetable, however, has come a long way since then and offers a wide range of culinary possibilities.

From raw salads to roasted dishes and soups, beets are a flavorful and nutritious addition to your meals. Loaded with B vitamins, iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, and potassium, beets offer a host of health benefits.

It’s not just the roots that are edible, though. Beet tops can be used as a substitute for spinach or Swiss chard in various recipes. If you’re convinced that beets deserve a place in your garden, the next step is to choose the right variety to grow.

There are several beet cultivars to choose from, ranging from classic deep-red beets to white, gold, and even pink and white candy-striped varieties. Some are heirloom types passed down through generations, while others are hybrid varieties bred for disease resistance.

Let’s take a look at some of the best beet varieties to grow at home:

17 Beet Varieties to Consider for Your Garden

1. Avalanche

2. Open-pollinated white cultivar with a sweet, mild flavor.

3. Ideal for slicing raw in salads or roasting.
4. All-America Selections winner in 2015.

5. Available at Burpee.

6. Bull’s Blood

7. Heirloom cultivar with deep purple leaves.

8. Roots have a sweet, slightly earthy flavor.
9. Tops can be harvested early.

10. Available at Eden Brothers.

11. Chioggia

12. Known as ‘Candystripe’ or ‘Bull’s Eye’.

13. Reveals concentric rings of pink and white when sliced.
14. Delicate, sweet flavor.

15. Available at Eden Brothers.

16. Crosby Egyptian

17. Heirloom cultivar with flattened, sweet roots.

18. Cold-tolerant and ideal for early fall crops.

19. Available at Eden Brothers.

20. Cylindra

21. Ideal for pickling and canning.

22. Elongated roots with deep red flesh.
23. Smooth skin and sweet, mild flavor.

24. Available at Eden Brothers.

25. Detroit Dark Red

26. Classic heirloom variety with deep red roots.

27. Tender, flavorful tops ideal for salads.

28. Available at Eden Brothers.

29. Early Wonder

30. Early-maturing heirloom cultivar with deep red roots.

31. Delicious tops with a slightly piquant taste.
32. Heat and cold tolerant.

33. Available at Eden Brothers.

34. Golden

35. Heirloom cultivar with golden roots.

36. Sweet, mild flavor ideal for roasting.
37. Tender green leaves with yellow stems.

38. Available at Burpee.

39. Golden Detroit

40. Produces orange-yellow roots with pale stems.

41. Mild flavor suitable for raw or cooked preparation.
42. Ideal addition to salads.

43. Available at True Leaf Market.

44. Lutz Green Leaf

45. Produces deep-red roots and green tops.

46. Flavour comparable to Swiss chard.
47. Ideal for pickling and roasting.

48. Available at Eden Brothers.

49. Merlin

    • F1 hybrid cultivar with high sugar content.
    • Disease-resistant and heat/cold tolerant.
    • Sweet and tender red roots.
    • Available at Burpee.

50. Moulin Rouge

    • Hybrid cultivar with deep magenta roots.
    • Sweet, rich flavor suitable for fresh or cooked dishes.
    • Available at Burpee.

51. Red Ace

    • Fast-maturing beet adaptable to various soil conditions.
    • Smooth-skinned, deep purple roots.
    • Cold-tolerant and hearty flavor.
    • Available at True Leaf Market.

52. Red Ball

    • Heirloom cultivar with sweet, mild red flesh.
    • Abundant greens ideal for salads.
    • Available at Burpee.

53. Ruby Queen

    • Heirloom cultivar with deep-red roots.
    • Suitable for canning or raw consumption.
    • Ideal for poor soil conditions.
    • Available at Eden Brothers.

54. Touchstone Gold

    • Hybrid cultivar with bright yellow flesh.
    • Suitable for raw or cooked dishes.
    • Ready for harvest after 55 days.
    • Available at High Mowing Seeds.

55. White Detroit

    • Creamy-white roots with a distinctive taste.
    • Hearty flavor without staining.
    • Ideal for stir-fries and sautes.
    • Available at True Leaf Market.

Choosing the Right Beet Variety for Your Garden

When selecting a beet variety to grow at home, consider factors such as flavor, color, and timing to find the perfect match for your family’s preferences. From classic deep-red beets to unique white, gold, and striped varieties, there’s a beet cultivar for every palate.

Experiment with different kinds of beets to discover new flavors and culinary possibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned beet enthusiast or a novice gardener looking to introduce a new vegetable to your family, growing beets at home can be a rewarding experience.

Check out our beet growing guide to get started, and remember to share your beet-growing journey with us in the comments section below. We’d love to hear about your experiences with different beet varieties and how they worked out for you.

For more information on growing beets, explore the following guides:

• How to Harvest Beets
• How to Grow Beets in Containers
• How to Harvest Beet Greens
• Common Beet Pests: Identification, Control Tips, and Prevention

Expand your culinary horizons by growing a variety of beets in your garden. With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect beet variety for your homegrown dishes. Happy gardening!

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