FULL SUN – BEET, Detroit Dark Red – Beta vulgaris, native to the coastal regions of southern Europe, the beet has been cultivated since prehistoric times for its green tops. Not until the 1500s was the vegetable cultivated for its roots. Detroit Dark Red is one of the most famous beets of all time. Introduced in 1892, roots grow to 3 in., flesh is fine-grained, sweet and tender. The dark green tops are also tasty. Beets can be sown in the early spring for a summer crop and mid-late summer for a fall crop. In the spring, plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Soil should be deeply spaded before planting. Beets are best grown in sandy loam soil. Beets grown in dense clay soils can be tough and stringy while beets grown in rich soils tend to go to seed quickly. Rows should be 18 in. apart. When seedlings are 1 in. high, thin, leaving 6 in. between plants. Beets become sweeter with exposure to frosts. Adding lime to the soil before planting will also sweeten beets. They should be harvested young and small or they tend to become woody. Type Spacing Planting Depth Days to Germination Maturity Beets 6 in. 1 in. 14-18 55
