ALTO

Alto is different from traditional globe beetroot because it is shape like a long cylinder. As it grows the top part of the edible root appears above ground. If you want to keep it in the ground through to early winter you will need to earth up around the root.

Alto is an F1 variety which means saved seeds will not come true to the parent. The taste is sweet and the texture smooth. It is grown and cooked exactly in the same way as other beetroot.

BOLTARDY

This is the variety we use each year as our beetroot mainstay. It is hardy throughout the UK and produces delicious rounded roots with a deep scarlet colour. The shape of the bulbs is very regular and both taste and texture is excellent.

Boltardy is resistant to bolting which can occur when the water supply is irregular. Bolting results in woody and bitter roots. If you want an earlier than normal crop of beetroot then this is the one to choose. Sow under cloches two weeks earlier than normal.

Boltardy was awarded an Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1993 (reconfirmed in 2016) and is the most popular variety of beetroot grown in the UK. Seeds of this variety are widely available from garden centres and online stores. This is an open-pollinated variety and seeds saved will come true to type (see note at top about about saving beetroot seeds).

CHIOGGIA

The full name of this variety is Barbabietola Di Chioggia. If you are looking for something different then give this variety a chance. The root is pink on the outside with rings of pink and white in the middle. Don’t expect the full beetroot flavour from this variety, as pretty a it looks, it is rather bland compared to many other varieties.

Two whole Chioggia beetroots

The coloured rings disappear to a degree when cooked but this variety looks superb finely sliced raw in salads where its colouring really counts. Be aware though that some people have an adverse reaction when eating raw beetroot and it does taste rather bitter.

Cooked Chioggia beetroot

The above picture shows a Chioggia beetroot which has been lightly boiled for 20 minutes. It is not quite cooked through although very edible. Even at this stage it can be seen that the outer rings are beginning to disappear.

From personal experience we can recommend this variety for roasting, simply add them to the roast potatoes as they cook, delicious. This is an open-pollinated variety and seeds saved will come true to type (see note here about about saving beetroot seeds).

DETROIT 2 CRIMSON GLOBE

A very reliable variety which grew quick and well in our tests. When harvested young the beetroot is indeed rounded but leave it for a week or two longer and it takes on a more elongated shape as shown in the picture below.

Detroit 2 Crimson Globe beetroot

That really doesn’t matter because invariably beetroot is served sliced. This variety was almost unmarked when we pulled it, it seems to resist bites from bugs etc. very well. Possibly this could be because the flesh is very dense, it certainly takes longer to cook compared to most other beetroot varieties.

Cooked Detroit 2 Crimson Globe beetroot

Detroit 2 Crimson Globe is one our two favourite beetroot varieties. It is trouble free, keeps well in the ground if not picked at the correct time, has great taste and texture.

MONETA

There are few qualities which make Moneta stand out from other varieties. It is a monogerm variety producing only one seedling per seed but it does seem that most gardeners don’t value this quality very highly.

Beetroot Moneta

The root is well rounded but not particularly sweet. It does lack real taste although texture, when cooked, is good. Colour is a very deep crimson red with light ring marks.

Cooked beetroot Moneta

PABLO

A more recent variety which was also awarded an AGM by the RHS in 1993, and reconfirmed in 2016. Pablo has good resistance to bolting, very hardy, this variety produces a very sweet, attractive, well rounded root. In our part of the UK (West Midlands) this variety was ready for harvest in early July.

Beetroot Pablo

Seeds of this variety are widely available from garden centres and online stores. This is an F1 variety and seeds saved will not come true to type.

Beetroot Pablo cooked

Above is a picture of a Pablo beetroot when cooked and cooled. It is the deepest red / purple of all the beetroots. Initially when cooked the centre is slightly lighter in colour, but after cooling the entire beetroot is the most intense deep colour.

RED ACE

Developed by the American company Alf Christianson Seed Co. in 1981, Red Ace are true to their name and produce deep red beetroots. This is a globe variety and produces very uniform nearly circular beetroot. It does well in conditions where other varieties might not succeed and is resistant to bolting.

The roots are free from fibre and have a melt in the mouth texture, the taste is very pleasantly sweet. From seed sowing to fully grown beetroot takes approximately two months. In our opinion its as good Boltardy and possibly better.

Seeds for this variety are not common in garden centres and probably the best way to buy them is through online seed merchants. This is an F1 variety and seeds saved will not come true to type. Reconfirmed RHS AGM in 2016.

SOLO

Solo is a monogerm variety (produces only one seedling per seed). Although this claimed by many to be an advantage because it reduces thinning, it seems that most gardeners don’t really care! After all it only takes a few seconds seconds to pull up a seedling.

Beetroot variety Solo

Definite positives for this variety is that it produces lovely looking, round red beets. They cook well. One of the sweetest, it is ideal for slicing raw into a salad. British bred, it gained an RHS AGM in 2005 which was reconfirmed in 2016. This is an F1 variety and seeds saved will not come true to type.

WODAN

Wodan was first awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993 and this was reconfirmed in 2016. It’s primary quality is that the roots can be left in the ground longer than most other varieties without taking on a woody texture.

Wodan is a variety which suits the “forgetful” gardener. Not only does is stay edible for longer but it also can be grown very close together (or more truthfully “I forgot to thin the seedlings”) with good results.

Taste is rated highly, slightly less sweet than some varieties but with a full beetroot flavour. The roots are large golf ball sized and shaped with a deep red flesh. A very reliable cropper each
year which can be harvested at full size or as baby beetroot.

This variety produces a crop about two weeks earlier than average. It grows equally well in open ground, raised beds and containers. This is an F1 variety and seeds saved will not come true to type.