Beta vulgaris

Beta vulgaris, as used herein, refers to the red beetroot or beet that is sold in grocery stores as a vegetable under the common name of garden beet. Although proper nomenclature for this species is complicated, garden beet cultivars are often abbreviated in commerce as Beta vulgaris followed by the cultivar name. This beet may be cooked for use as a vegetable, pickled for use as a condiment, added to salads, bottled/canned or made into the classic soup known as borscht. Each plant typically forms a dense rosette of dark green leaves that grow in a clump to 18\ tall (sometimes more). Beets are... more »

Beta vulgaris, as used herein, refers to the red beetroot or beet that is sold in grocery stores as a vegetable under the common name of garden beet. Although proper nomenclature for this species is complicated, garden beet cultivars are often abbreviated in commerce as Beta vulgaris followed by the cultivar name. This beet may be cooked for use as a vegetable, pickled for use as a condiment, added to salads, bottled/canned or made into the classic soup known as borscht. Each plant typically forms a dense rosette of dark green leaves that grow in a clump to 18\ tall (sometimes more). Beets are best dug and harvested when 2-3\" in diameter. Non-showy, greenish flowers (sometimes tinged red) appear in dense spikes. Plants of this species have historically been selected, bred and cultivated for a number of different purposes, including not only the garden beets (root vegetable) described herein but also sugar beets (sugar extraction), mangelwurzel (livestock fodder) and swiss chard/spinach beets (leaf vegetable)." (less)