Beetroot

Beetroot is a valuable vegetable that is semi-hardy and biennial. It is grown year-round for its sweet, tender, succulent roots. Beet contains more sugar than any other vegetable, and its earthy taste and aroma are owed to an organic compound called geosmin.

Beets come in an array of colours, sizes, and shapes. The beets we know today originated in the Middle Ages from a plant called sea-beet (Beta vulgaris var. maritima) that grew on the dunes along the Caspian Sea. Originally, only the leaves were used because the roots were still small and underdeveloped. Beets with better-developed roots were documented in Roman literature at about 200 AD. In 300 BC, Romans regarded beetroot as a delicacy and ate it with vinegar and onions. Roman armies used beet as horse feed.

Centuries of selection resulted in the different kinds of beet we know today:

  • Swiss chard – those with abundant tender leaves.
  • Red table beets – the most common beets we all know.
  • Huge mangle beets – used for livestock feed.
  • Sugar beets – containing up to 20% sugar, used for a large part of the world’s sugar production.

Beetroot is mostly boiled and eaten with butter. Some varieties are very good for canning and cooled-down sliced beets are used as a salad with onions, spices, vinegar and sugar. Greens can be cooked just like Swiss chard (or as South Africans like to call it, "spinach") and are even more nutritious than the beet's roots and true spinach. Some beetroot, like the Chioggia, can even be used as a raw slicing beet in salad for a striking visual effect. 

Beets are best directly seeded as they do not transplant well. Soak the corky seeds in water overnight to aid in germination. Plant in full sun, about two weeks before the last spring frost. They do best in loose, well-prepared soil with lots of organic matter. To grow choice beets, encourage quick, steady growth by keeping the soil moist and weed-free. 

Coastal Areas:           Feb-Apr, Jul-Nov

Inland Areas:             Feb-Mar, Aug-Oct

Subtropical Areas:    Feb-Apr, Jul-Aug

 


Albino White

Albino White

Beta vulgaris A completely pure white beetroot from Holland with an extraordinary flavour and tex..

R30.27

Bull's Blood

Bull's Blood

Beta vulgarisThis outstanding heirloom variety from 1840 produces round, slightly flattened, deep re..

R31.35

Chioggia Beetroot

Chioggia Beetroot

Beta vulgarisAlso known as Candy Stripe, Candy Cane, Bull’s Eye, Turnip Bassano. A beautifully-colou..

R31.35

Crimson Globe Beetroot

Crimson Globe Beetroot

Beta vulgaris Crimson Globe is a great, fine-fleshed eating and storage variety. Grows well in most..

R30.27

Crosby Egyptian Beetroot

Crosby Egyptian Beetroot

Beta vulgarisA celebrated heirloom variety first introduced in Boston, USA, by farmer Josiah Crosby...

R25.73 R30.27

Cylindra Beetroot

Cylindra Beetroot

Beta vulgarisAs the name suggests, this variety produces a long, slim, cylindrical-shaped beetroot, ..

R25.73 R30.27

Early Wonder Beetroot

Early Wonder Beetroot

Beta vulgaris A popular heirloom beet that produces high yields of deep red roots. This well-li..

R30.27

Golden Globe Beetroot

Golden Globe Beetroot

Beta vulgaris A beautiful golden yellow beetroot, released in the USA in the early 1940s. This be..

R30.27

Lutz Green Leaf Beetroot (Red Stem)

Lutz Green Leaf Beetroot (Red Stem)

Beta vulgarisMost commonly referred to as "Winter keeper," this beetroot has outstanding storage pot..

R30.27

Ruby Queen Beetroot

Ruby Queen Beetroot

Beta vulgarisMedium-sized, smooth, deep red globes that retain their colour well when canned. The sw..

R30.27

Sugar Beet

Sugar Beet

Beta vulgaris THIS is the beetroot you're looking for if you want to make your own sugar. Histori..

R30.27

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Specials

Batavian Full Heart Endive

Batavian Full Heart Endive

Cichorium endivaBatavian Full Heart was crowned the All American Selection crop back in 1934 and ha..

R26.75 R31.48

Biogrow Radavit

Biogrow Radavit

Radavit is an organic composting agent that contains compost bacteria together with enzymes and fung..

R122.54 R136.16

Biogrow Vegol

Biogrow Vegol

A superb, organic contact insecticide that works by coating the pores of insects. It also has a grea..

R104.27 R115.85

Chantenay Red Cored

Chantenay Red Cored

Daucus carotaA popular variety that was introduced in 1929 by C.C. Morse & Company.These th..

R30.87 R36.32

Crosby Egyptian Beetroot

Crosby Egyptian Beetroot

Beta vulgarisA celebrated heirloom variety first introduced in Boston, USA, by farmer Josiah Crosby...

R25.73 R30.27

Cylindra Beetroot

Cylindra Beetroot

Beta vulgarisAs the name suggests, this variety produces a long, slim, cylindrical-shaped beetroot, ..

R25.73 R30.27

Flamingo Pink Swiss Chard

Flamingo Pink Swiss Chard

Beta vulgaris var cicla A beautiful Swiss Chard with light pink stems, it makes a lovely addition..

R29.84 R35.11

Giant Minowase (Pickling Radish)

Giant Minowase (Pickling Radish)

Raphanus sativusA Japanese Heirloom. This radish variety is crisp with a sweet,mild flavour. A great..

R22.85 R26.88

Golden Helios Radish

Golden Helios Radish

Raphanus sativus Stunning polish heirloom variety. Golden yellow skin with a crisp firm white fl..

R26.75 R31.48

Green Curled Ruffec

Green Curled Ruffec

Cichorium endiva A.k.a. frisée, this French heirloom endive boasts deeply cut, dark green leaves...

R26.76 R31.48

Green Igloo

Green Igloo

Brassica oleraceaA great choice for a smaller sized garden or for container gardening. This is a d..

R28.82 R33.90

Hailstone Radish

Hailstone Radish

Rephanus sativusAn heirloom variety  originally released in 1908, one of the easiest and fastes..

R26.75 R31.48

Hong Vit

Hong Vit

Raphanus sativusBeautiful long white radishes with delightful pink-purple shoulders. Delicious raw a..

R26.75 R31.48

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 30mm

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 30mm

The Jiffy-7C® is a 100% buffered coir planting plug. Perfect for use in hydroponics/aquaponics.The J..

R13.80 R14.28

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 40mm

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 40mm

The Jiffy-7C® is a 100% buffered coir planting plug. Perfect for use in hydroponics/aquaponics.The J..

R20.70 R21.82

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 60mm

Jiffy-7C® Plugs 60mm

The Jiffy-7C® is a 100% buffered coir planting plug. Perfect for use in hydroponics/aquaponics.The J..

R32.20 R32.43

Lime Streaks Mizuna

Lime Streaks Mizuna

Brassica juncea A wonderful Asian green that can be harvested from day 25 at baby-leaf stage, and..

R28.82 R33.89

Pink Beauty Radish

Pink Beauty Radish

Raphanus sativus This radish is a real stunner with its beautiful soft pink skin and crisp, mild ..

R26.75 R31.48

Purple Plum Radish

Purple Plum Radish

Raphanus sativus Deep purple, these radishes add a stunning flavour and colour contrast to any gr..

R26.75 R31.48

Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

Purple Vienna Kohlrabi

Brassica oleracea gongylodesThese are just sublime! Beautiful, deep purple, and very eye-catching, w..

R28.94 R34.05

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