Beta vulgaris craca

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Chenopodiaceae

Genus

Beta

Life cycle

biennial

Height

0.9 m

Fertility

Wind

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or cooked^{[6][3][13][1]}. 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^[2]. The root is tasteless when grown on very wet soils and dry when grown on clay soils^[1]. 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^[5]. 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^[9].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Although little used in modern herbalism, beet has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours^[12]. The root of white-rooted forms contain betaine which promotes the regeneration of liver cells and the metabolism of fat cells^[10]. 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^[10]. The root is carminative, haemostatic, stomachic and a tonic for women^[9]. The root can be used as part of the diet, or the juice can be extracted and used as a health-promoting drink^[10]. At least one litre of the juice from red-rooted forms must be taken each day in order to stimulate the immune system^[10]. The juice is prescribed by herbalists as part of a cancer-treatment regime^[10]. 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^[12]. 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^[12]. 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^[12]. The juice has been applied to ulcers^[12]. A decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids in South Africa^[12]. Leaves and roots used as an emmenagogue^[12]. Plant effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis^[12]. 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^[12]. Beet juice in vinegar was said to rid the scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was recommended to prevent falling hair^[12].

Environment

Range

A cultivated form of B. vulgaris maritima that is grown for its edible root.

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Salinity

tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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^[14][15]. 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^[16]. 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^[12]. 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^[12]. 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^[11]. 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^[7]. 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^[7][11]. 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^[11]. 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^[11]. A good companion for dwarf beans, onions and kohl rabi^[4][8]. Its growth is inhibited by runner beans, charlock and field mustard^[4][8].

Related plants

• Beta lomatogona
• Beta trigyna
• Beta vulgaris altissimaSugar Beet
• Beta vulgaris ciclaSpinach Beet

References

1. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

   ↩1↩2

2. Woodcock. and Coutts. Lilies - Their Culture and Management. Country Life 1935-00-00

   ↩

3. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

   ↩

4. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

   ↩1↩2

5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩

6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

   ↩

7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

   ↩1↩2

8. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

   ↩1↩2

9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

   ↩1↩2

10. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

11. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Vegetables Macmillan Reference Books, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0 333 62640 0

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

12. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

13. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

14. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩

15. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

16. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩