Beet Detroit Dark Red
Beet Detroit Dark Red
One of the most popular beets, Detroit Dark Red, is the choice for a reliable harvest of classic American beets! It has a sweet taste, delicate texture with little or no zoning, and a blood-red color. Round vegetables are about 3″ in diameter and are suitable for canning. Dark green tops can be harvested early and cooked like Swiss chard. Detroit Dark Red grows in cool spring weather and does not require special conditions; it ripens in 58 days.Detroit Dark Red Beets are native to Ontario, Canada, where Mr. Reeves bred them from a blood turnip. This globular beet first appeared in 1892.
Beets probably originated in the Mediterranean region, where people have grown them for thousands of years. Next, beets were raised in Germany and Holland as livestock feed. And when imported to England, the vegetable spread among the population as an affordable source of food. Later, American colonists brought red beets to the New World, becoming a widespread vegetable for roots and greenery.
How to grow Beet (Detroit Dark Red) from seeds:
- Sowing: Plant Detroit Dark Red beet seed directly 4 weeks before the last expected frost. Soak them in water fоr 2 hours and plant them in the sun in well-drained soil. Sow them 1" deep and 1" apart in rows 1-2' apart. After sowing, tamp the soil over the seed to ensure good contact with the soil. Expect germination in 5-15 days. For better growth, you can add compost or other organic matter. Beets are a companion plant, so plant Detroit Dark Red beet seeds with bush beans, onions, or the cabbage family; avoid planting them next to pole beans.
- Plant Spacing: 12-24″.
- Growing of Beet (Detroit Dark Red): Since each beet seed can hold up to 8 actual seeds, the seedlings must be thinned 3″ apart. Uprooted plants are well suited as a second crop as they will be about 2 weeks behind the original plants when transplanted. Be cаreful and try not to damage the seedlings when weeding. They love cool weather and can withstand temperatures up to 25F.
- Beet (Detroit Dark Red) Soil Requirements for: Well-drained soil in full sun after danger of frost in spring. In frost-free areas, sow in fall.
- Beet (Detroit Dark Red) Days to Germination: 10-14 days.
- Light Preference of Beet (Detroit Dark Red): Full Sun.
- Life Cycle of Beet (Detroit Dark Red): Annual.
- How and When to Harvest Beet (Detroit Dark Red): Beets have their best taste and tenderness when they are up to 3″ in diameter. After removing the beets from the ground, cut the tops 1″ up the stem to prevent the beets from releasing their juice. Detroit Dark Red beets can be stored for a long time in a cool dark place for later use. The beautiful green tops mature in 40 days. You can collect up to a third of the total amount of tops without damaging the plant. Green and fresh leaves are used in salads and other dishes.
- Beet (Detroit Dark Red)Seeds Days to Maturity: 75 days.
- Beet's (Detroit Dark Red) Seed Saving: Beets are wind-pollinated, so you should separate them by at least two miles from other chard and beets. For seeds, beets must overwinter. In warmer climates, a layer of mulch is sufficient to protect the plant. In cоoler climates, dig up the roots and store thеm in the sand sо the roots do not touch each other in a cool, damp place. Plant them in early spring and expect seeds. The seed heads must be fully grown and dry before removing them. The seeds will easily break off the stems after they are dehydrated. Store Detroit Dark Red Beet Seeds in a cool, dry place for up to five years.
FAST FACTS:
- Common Names: Beet
- Latin Name: Beta
- Species Origin: Mediterranean
- Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Cool Season
- Life Cycle: Annual
- USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
- Seeds per Ounce: 1,200
- Sunlight: Full Sun
- Height: 16 Inches
- Color: Purple
- Uses: Culinary
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