"Detroit Dark Red" Beet

Beta vulgaris

Detroit Dark Red is the quintessential heirloom beet variety introduced in 1892. Full of color, sweetness and dense nutrition. Enjoy its sweet earthy flavor roasted, pickled in kvass, and stewed in borscht! Yum!

Growing Instructions:

Direct seed any time from mid spring through 8 weeks before first frost.

Sow seeds 3” apart in rows 12” apart.

Too much nitrogen can cause lanky green stems and weak roots that are susceptible to storage diseases which impact its long term root cellar storability. The best fertilizer for a spring beet planting is a fall cover crop mix of oats & peas— or a spring cover crop for a late summer beet planting. Followed this up with a well balanced compost and a dusting of wood ash just before planting.

Harvest:

Harvest at any stage desired for eating. Harvest storage crop before heavy frosts and before the ground freezes. Cut off the tops and store the beets unwashed in containers with sand or dry maple leaves in a cold (33 to 38 degree F) place with 95% humidity or as close as you can get. They should keep until the following spring.