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Beetroot

Beware the curse of the raw vegetable!

I’d never grown (or eaten raw) beetroot before, but I fell for the five-variety Rainbow Beet seed collection from Suttons. All the roots are globe-shaped and the mix contains:

  • Subeto: Purple-red roots, purple stems and green leaves.
  • Boldor: Yellow flesh with orange outer skin, yellow stems and bright green leaves.
  • Chioggia: Red-pink skin and ‘bullseye’ alternating red and white rings fading to soft pink when cooked. Pink stems.
  • Albina Vereduna: White roots with pale green stems.
  • Bull’s Blood Scarletta: Dark burgundy-purple leaves, stems and outer skins. Cerise pink roots with concentric rings.
Beetroot
Battered beetroot from the Rainbow Beet Seed Collection

Pretty – but beware. I picked five small roots and sliced them, tossing them in a light dressing. I didn’t get halfway through the bowl before I had to stop. The back of my throat felt as if it was stripped bare; I started to cough and my taste buds seem to make everything taste like varnish. Just to cap it all off, later on, my wee was deep purple.

Thank goodness for the internet. It’s called beeturia, a harmless side effect of drinking/eating lots of beetroot or juice, caused by betalain pigment secretions. The effects are most apparent in those with low stomach acid.

Beetroot
Growing beetroot primarily for the leaves under net

Tightening of the vocal cords

As for the throat, many people report this, plus a tightening of the vocal cords – very little about the taste buds though!

Other side effects can be slight flu-like symptoms, rashes and an, er, ‘cleansing’ effect on the digestive system. People with kidney stones shouldn’t eat beetroot because of the high oxalate content.

Enough of the bad stuff. Beetroot (in moderation) can lower blood pressure better than some prescription medications. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and discourages blood clot formation. The compound betacyanin can help fight cancer, improving cell respiration and stopping or slowing cancer cell growth.

It’s high in fibre, low in calories and rich in folate, potassium, manganese, iron and many vitamins and minerals.

My advice – if you want to include raw beetroot to your diet, double-check with your GP. Add a small amount of beetroot juice to a fruit/vegetable smoothie.

Beetroot
You’ve got to love the monster veg from the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

2-4-1 beetroot crop bonanza

Beetroot is very easy to grow and ideal for beginners. Direct sow outside in spring or in modules under glass to be planted out. Don’t forget both leaves and roots can be eaten. Those little leaves with red veins you find in expensive salad mixes are from purple beet. Many people grow it solely for salad leaves now.

It will grow in any well-drained soil but requires fertile conditions. Add compost or organic matter, plus a general-purpose fertiliser (such as Growmore) before sowing.

Water seedlings and plants every 10-14 days, more in dry spells. If plants are not growing well, apply high nitrogen fertiliser, such as sulphate of ammonia.

Stress, caused by cold or drought, results in bolting, which means the plants rush to flower and set seed. Sow resistant varieties, such as Boltardy. Pull up alternate plants at golf ball size, leaving the others to reach the size of a cricket ball. Use the leaves and roots (boiled or raw, see above) in salads for no waste.

  • Subeto F1. Picture; DT Brown
  • Golden Eye. Picture; Mr Fothergill's
  • Rainbow Mixed

Potted guide: beetroot

Potted guide
  • SOWING TIME: March-July outdoors; February-March in modules under glass.
  • HARVESTING TIME: June-October.
  • PLANTING DISTANCE: Thin seedlings to 10cm apart.
  • ASPECT AND SOIL: Full sun, light, well-drained.
  • HARDINESS: Very hardy.
  • DIFFICULTY: Easy.
  • RECOMMENDED VARIETIES (globe unless stated): Purple/red/cerise – Subeto, Boltardy, Kestrel, Moneta, Pablo, Cardeal, Detroit 2, Wodan, Solo, Bull’s Blood Scarletta, Red Ace, Rubidus, Rhonda, Globe 2, Action, Mulatka. Alto (long roots), Kahira (Egyptian heritage flat-rooted), Cylindra (tapered). Yellow/orange – Boldor, Burpee’s Golden, Badger Gold (tapered), Golden Detroit, Golden Eye. Ringed – Chioggia (red/white skin, pink/white rings), Morello (pink/purple rings), Barabietola Di Chioggia (rose pink/white). White – Albina Vereduna, Albino (pointy).

Learn how to make a cordon bleu-style beetroot salad by chef Michael Caines here.

Beetroot growing page updated August 2022