Practical
Plants

Beta trigyna

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Beta
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.9 m
Spread
0.45 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Root[1]. It is supposed to be edible[3]. Leaves - raw or cooked. Although we have found no records of their edibility, the plant belongs to a genus where the leaves are often used as food. The leaves of this species make an acceptable spinach[K].

Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
Europe - Balkans. to W. Asia. Occasionally persisting in Britain[2].
Habitat
Steppe, roadsides, seacoasts, cultivated land and grassy places in Turkey[4]. Occasionally persists in fields in Britain[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, it can be sown outdoors in situ in mid to late spring.

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a light neutral to alkaline soil. A very tolerant plant, it has survived considerable neglect on our Cornwall trial grounds, succeeding in dense grass growth[K].

References

  1. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00

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