Beta vulgaris — A root vegetable grown for its swollen, deep-red root and edible young leaves, sown direct from spring through summer for a steady succession of harvests.
Quick facts
- Scientific name: Beta vulgaris
- Lifecycle: biennial (requires two growing seasons, but treated as an annual)
- Growth habit: Clump forming
- Edible parts: roots, leaves
Growing conditions
- Soil pH: 6–6.8
- Optimal temperature: 15.6–18.3°C
- Sunlight: 4–6 hours
- Drainage / site: RHS: drains well, in a sunny site. Utah State: prefer sunny locations.
- Watering: RHS: water regularly during dry spells while young; established plants need little, about every 10–14 days in dry spells, and uneven watering should be avoided.
- Soil: RHS: fertile soil that drains well and doesn't become waterlogged.
Harvesting & storage
- Days to harvest: 40–80
- When to harvest: All three sources use root diameter. RHS: harvest at golf ball size for small roots, and no larger than a cricket ball when mature. Univ. of Maryland: pull beetroots when they are 1 to 3 inches in diameter.
- Storage: RHS: store in a garage or shed, where they should keep for at least a couple of months. Utah State: 32°F and 95% relative humidity for 2–4 months.
Common diseases
- Downy mildew (general) — The RHS beetroot guide names downy mildews among beetroot diseases.
- Cucumber mosaic virus — UC IPM names beets among CMV hosts.
Common pests
- Aphids (Aphididae (various spp.))
- Slugs (Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.))
- Snails (Gastropoda (snails, various spp.))
- Beet leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami) — RHS: beet leaf miner affects beetroot, spinach beet, Swiss chard and some other related plants.
- Flea beetles (Chrysomelidae: Alticini (various spp.))
Gallery
Image credits
Images sourced via Openverse under Creative Commons / public-domain licences. Credit to each creator below.
- Beetroot: “Beets - Beta vulgaris by Scott 97006, BY 2.0” — CC BY, source
- Beetroot: “Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) by Dag Endresen, BY 2.0” — CC BY, source
- Beetroot juice: “Beet Juice (Beta Vulgaris) by JP Corrêa Carvalho, BY 2.0” — CC BY, source
- Flea beetle: “Flea beetle by Carlos Eduardo Joos, BY 2.0” — CC BY, source
- Beet leaf miner: “Pegomya hyoscyami by jamie-aa, BY 4.0” — CC BY, source
Facts compiled by the SoilCommander Garden Doctor knowledge base from RHS and university-extension sources.