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Beta vulgaris craca
| Common name: |
Beetroot |
Family: |
Chenopodiaceae |
| Author: |
Alef. |
Botanical references: |
200 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
A cultivated form of B. vulgaris maritima that is grown for its edible root. |
| Habitat: |
Not known in a truly wild situation. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
3 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 2 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| B. altissima[G]
B. brasiliensis[G]
B. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris[G]
B. vulgaris var. altissima[G]
B. vulgaris var. conditiva[G]
B. vulgaris var. crassa[G]
B. vulgaris var. saccharifera[G]
|
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
vulgaris = common;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Caryophyllales. Goosefoot family
|
| Noxious, Invasive and Injurious Weeds | From USDA
PLANTS database, Weeds Australia
, DEFRA Injurious Weeds | | Listed as noxious/invasive for: . |
Physical Characteristics
Biennial growing to 0.9m. It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.
We rate it 3/5 for edibility and
2/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.
It requires moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Cultivated Beds.Edible Uses
Leaves; Root.
Root - raw or cooked[2, 16, 27, 132]. Well-grown roots are sweet and
tender, especially when young, and can be grated and used in salads.
Beetroots are traditionally boiled until tender then pickled in vinegar and
used in salads. The roots can also be cooked and used as a vegetable, they
are sweet and delicious when baked[K]. The root contains up to 8% sugar[143].
The root is tasteless when grown on very wet soils and dry when grown on clay
soils[132]. Immature roots can be harvested in the summer and early autumn
for immediate use, these are usually much more tender than the older
roots[K]. Mature roots can be left in the ground all winter and harvested as
required, though they might suffer damage in severe winters[K].
Alternatively, they are harvested in late autumn or early winter and will
store for up to 6 months in a cool but not dry frost-free place[K].
Leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[183]. A reasonable spinach substitute,
though harvesting leaves from growing plants can reduce yields of the
roots[K]. Some people dislike the raw leaves since they can leave an
unpleasant taste in the mouth[K]. A nutritional analysis is available[218]. Composition
- Leaves (Fresh weight)
-
In grammes per 100g weight of food:
Water: 86.4
Calories: 45
Protein: 3.2
Fat: 0.4
Carbohydrate: 8.1
Fibre: 3.8
Ash: 1.9
In milligrammes per 100g weight of food:
Calcium: 114
Phosphorus: 34
Iron: 3.1
VitaminA: 3152
Thiamine: 0.07
Riboflavin: 0.22
Niacin: 0.6
VitaminC: 50
Source: [218]
Notes
: The figures for Vitamin a are said to be milligrammes.
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Antitumor; Carminative; Emmenagogue; Haemostatic; Stomachic; Tonic.
Although little used in modern herbalism, beet has a long history of
folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours[269].
The root of white-rooted forms contain betaine which promotes the
regeneration of liver cells and the metabolism of fat cells[254]. The root of
red-rooted forms contains betanin - an anthocyanin similar to those found in
red wine - which is partly responsible for red beet's immune-enhancing
effect[254].
The root is carminative, haemostatic, stomachic and a tonic for women[218].
The root can be used as part of the diet, or the juice can be extracted and
used as a health-promoting drink[254]. At least one litre of the juice from
red-rooted forms must be taken each day in order to stimulate the immune
system[254]. The juice is prescribed by herbalists as part of a
cancer-treatment regime[254].
A decoction prepared from the seed has been used as a remedy for tumours of
the intestines. The seed, boiled in water, is said to cure genital
tumours[269].
The juice or other parts of the plant is said to help in the treatment of
tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast,
oesophagus, glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum,
spleen, stomach, and uterus[269]. Some figure that betacyanin and anthocyanin
are important in the exchange of substances of cancer cells; others note two
main components of the amines, choline and its oxidation product betaine,
whose absence produces tumours in mice[269]. The juice has been applied to
ulcers[269].
A decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids in
South Africa[269].
Leaves and roots used as an emmenagogue[269].
Plant effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis[269].
In the old days, beet juice was recommended as a remedy for anaemia and
yellow jaundice, and, put into the nostrils to purge the head, clear ringing
ears, and alleviate toothache[269]. Beet juice in vinegar was said to rid the
scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was recommended to prevent falling hair[269].
Other Uses
None known
Cultivation details
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in sun or light shade in moist
soils but prefers a rich well-drained light neutral to alkaline soil[33, 37].
Beets grow well in a variety of soils, growing best in a deep, friable
well-drained soil abundant with organic matter, but doing poorly on clay.
They prefer an open position and a light well-drained soil[52]. The optimum
pH is 6.0 - 6.8, but neutral and alkaline soils are tolerated in some areas.
Some salinity may be tolerated after the seedling stage. Beets are notable
for their tolerance to manganese toxicity[269]. Beet is reported to tolerate
an annual precipitation of 23 to 315cm, an average annual temperature range
of 5.0 to 26.6°C and a pH of 4.2 to 8.2[269]. Plants are tolerant of saline
soils and respond positively if salt is added to non-saline soils at a rate
of about 30g per square metre[264].
Beetroot plants are generally hardy in Britain and can be left outdoors in
the soil in most winters, though prolonged cold weather or severe winters can
damage the roots. If the plants are exposed to prolonged temperatures below
-10°c they will quickly run to seed[200]. This also applies to the young
plants of most beetroot varieties if they are sown in early spring - a short
period where temperatures fall below zero can fool the plant into believing
that there has been a winter and it will then try to flower and produce seed.
There are, however, come varieties, such as 'Bolthardy', that are more
resistant to bolting and so more suited to these early sowings[200, 264].
The beetroot is widely cultivated, especially in temperate zones, for its
edible root. There are two basic forms, those with rounded roots and those
with elongated roots with many named varieties of each form. The roots can be
available all year round from successional sowings. A fast-growing plant,
some cultivars can produce a root ready for harvesting within 7 weeks from
sowing the seed[264].
Most beetroot seed is actually a cluster of several seeds, though monogerm
varieties have been produced that only have one seed - these monogerm
varieties are less likely to require thinning once they have germinated[264].
A good companion for dwarf beans, onions and kohl rabi[18, 201]. Its growth
is inhibited by runner beans, charlock and field mustard[18, 201].
Propagation
Seed - pre-soaking for 12 hours in warm water prior to sowing
encourages mare rapid and even germination[264]. For the earliest crop, ready
to harvest in late spring, sow the seed in situ in late February or early
March, giving it some protection such as a cloche. The first outdoor sowings
can be made in March in situ to provide a crop from early summer onwards. For
both of these sowings it is important to choose varieties that are resistant
to bolting in case there is a cold spell in the spring. Sowings for the main
crop can be made in April to early June to provide roots for autumn, winter
and early spring use. Late sowings of fast maturing varieties can be made in
June and early July in order to provide fresh young roots in the autumn.
Cultivars
- 'Regala'
- The small-leaves variety with a round, purplish-red root that has fairly distinctive zones. It is resistant to bolting[264].
- 'Monopoly'
- This cultivar produces monogerm seed, thus there is only one plant that can germinate from each seed which greatly reduces the need to thin the plants. It produces a purplish-red root that is is a flattened sphere and is also resistant to bolting which makes it suitable for sowing as an early crop[264].
- 'Monogram'
- This cultivar produces monogerm seed, thus there is only one plant that can germinate from each seed which greatly reduces the need to thin the plants. It produces a root that is is a flattened sphere and is also resistant to bolting which makes it suitable for sowing as an early crop[264].
- 'MacGregor's Favourite'
- An old Scottish cultivar with a long deep red root[264]. It is best suited as a maincrop for winter use.
- 'Detroit Little Ball'
- A fast-growing bolt-resistant early maturing variety, it can be sown in early spring to produce an early summer harvest[264]. The round root has distinctive pale rings[264].
- 'Cylindra'
- A long rooted form with dark red roots[264]. It is suitable for sowing as a main crop for winter use.
- 'Burpee's Golden'
- The round roots are golden yellow in colour, though their flavour is similar to the red cultivars[264].
- 'Bolthardy'
- A fast-maturing form with a round root, it is resistant to the bolting caused by cold spring weather and so is suitable for the earliest sowings[264].
- 'Barbietola de Chioggia' 'Chioggia'
- An old Italian variety, the round root has alternating white and red rings when it is eaten raw, though it turns pale pink once it is cooked[264]. The flavour has been variously described as being delicious or horrible - it is most likely that the young root is delicious but becomes less desireable with age[264].
- 'Albinia Verecunda'
- An old variety, the round roots have a very sweet flavour[264].
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
References for Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (a possible synonym).
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
References for the family Chenopodiaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[16] Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0
A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.
[18] Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979
Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.
[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.
[33] Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960
Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.
[37] Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878
Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
[52] Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980
A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.
[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.
[143] Woodcock. and Coutts. Lilies - Their Culture and Management. Country Life 1935
A classic, but dated. Deals with the genus Lilium.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[201] Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
A well produced and very readable book.
[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
[264] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995 ISBN 0 333 62640 0
Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
[269] Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983
Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of plants.
Readers Comments
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Plant information taken from the
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