This variable biennial to annual is grown as a vegetable and may have a tuber-like root and upright basal oblong mid-green leaves with reddish mid ribs. The small greenish cup-shaped flowers appear in a cluster above the foliage during summer.

Hardiness zones 5 to 10

Beta vulgarisis naturally found from northern Africa to coastal Europe and extending to southwest Asia growing in moist grasslands and coastal scrub. It is an extremely variable species with numerous varieties that are cultivated for their edible foliage, roots and stems and the subsp. maritimais the wild ancestor.

It prefers a cooler climate and in the southern regions it is a spring crop while in the northern part it is a summer autumn crop. Generally it prefers a open sunny position and grows in moist fertile well-drained organic rich soil with a pH range from 6.0 to 6.8 and is mildly frost and salt tolerant but drought tender.

Beet is grown as vegetable for its swollen roots, stems and its leafy eatable foliage. It is planted in domestic vegetable gardens or planter boxes and pots for its edible parts or used as an ornamental for foliage colour in annual beds. It is also grown commercially on farms and is high-valued vegetable. It is suitable for coastal or inland regions and establishes in one season from seed and there are many varieties available.ID 1443

Beta(BAY-ta) vulgaris(bul-GAH-ris)

Amaranthaceae (AM-ar-an-THAY-see-e)