BEETROOT - DETROIT 2

  Organic Beetroot Detroit 2

        50 Seeds Pack    

Wild sea beet (Beta vulgaris subspecies maritima) has thrived around the coastlines of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, since prehistoric times.  Oldest archaeological proofs that we used beetroot in ancient times were found on the Neolithic site of Aartswoud in the Netherlands and in Saqqara pyramid at Thebes, Egypt, which dates from the time of the Third Dynasty (third millennium BC). Beetroot Detroit was first introduced in 1892 in Michigan, USA.  It was bred from a variety described as an early maturing European Blood Turnip (Long Red).  

Beetroot Detroit 2 Crimson Globe also known as Rote Ruben is a popular improved Detroit globe beetroot.  It is a classic, main-crop globe beetroot which produces excellent quality, smooth skinned globe beets with strong skin and ox-blood flesh colour.  Vary in size, typically averaging  3-7 centimetres in diameter, and have a globular to ovate shape with a small taproot extending from the non-stem end. The firm skin is dark red to purple and is semi-smooth with tiny root hairs, russet, and scrapes covering the surface. Underneath the surface, the flesh is a deep crimson and is dense, aqueous, and crunchy. When cooked, beets develop a tender, soft texture with a mildly sweet, earthy flavour. The beet plant also grows leafy stalks that are edible and have a taste similar to swiss chard. 

    PLANTING & GROWING

Can grow in plant containers in your balcony garden or inside near a sunny window. If you don’t have a suitable garden spot, try a container instead.  A pot that’s at least 8 inches wide and it has drainage holes. Due to sensitive roots, repotting is best avoided. Instead, make sure you choose a suitable growing container for your seeds right from the start.

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your pots, plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them. 

Beetroot prefer to be grown in light, sandy soil in a sunny position, but can tolerate pretty much any sort of soil and some shade will be tolerated, a pH of 6.0-7.0. 

Seeds can be planted directly into the ground after the threat of frost has passed. Beetroots are best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 25°C. The best quality beetroots are grown at temperatures of 10 to 18°C (50 to 65°F).The crops will tolerate light frost. The spacing is quite important. If you wish to grow small, pickling size beets, they need to be sown quite close together, about 5cm (2in) apart, in rows 15cm (6in) apart. If you wish to grow standard size beetroots, then sow about 10cm (4in) apart, in rows that are at least 30cm (12in) apart. Cover lightly with 25mm (1in) of fine soil. Firm gently, water well and keep moist.

Seedlings appear in 7 to 21 days. When large enough thin to at least 10cm (4in) apart.  

Best colour and flavour develop under cool conditions and bright sun. When beets mature in warm weather, they are lighter coloured, have less sugar and have more pronounced colour zoning in the roots. Fluctuating weather conditions produce white zone rings in roots.

Beetroot are both wind and insect pollinated; they will cross with silver-beet, chard and other beets. 

No-nos for planting near beets include pole beans, field mustard, and charlock (wild mustard).

Beets are closely related to Swiss chard and spinach. Avoid following these crops in rotation.