Beet (red) Detroit Dark Organic

Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris

Days to Maturity: 60 days

Family: Amaranthaceae

Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual

Plant Dimensions: Leaf tops to 12"–18" tall

Variety Information: 2 ½"–3" blood red, globe shaped. Leaf tops are dark green on red stems. Introduced in 1892, 'Detroit Dark Red' is the standard for beets. It has particularly good tasting greens, and withstands fluctuations in temperature quite well.

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°–85°F, for early summer crop. 6 to 8 weeks before your average first fall frost date for late summer/fall crop. Mild Climates: Sow fall through winter.

When to Start Inside: Not recommended. Root disturbance delays maturity.

Days to Emerge: 5 – 21 days

Seed Depth: ½"

Seed Spacing: 1 seed every 4"

Row Spacing: 12"

Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 4"

Harvesting: For early spring sowings, harvest beets before summer heat. For late summer sowings, harvest before first heavy freeze. For winter sowings in mild climates, harvest in early spring. Harvest when roots are anywhere from 1"-3" in diameter. The smaller they are, the more tender. Greens are most tender when small, so start harvesting when they are 2" tall. You can take as much as one third of a beet plant's outer leaves without harming the root crop.