Detroit Dark Red Beets
Beta Vulgaris

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
300-400 seeds per packet

days to maturity: 60 days
plant spacing: 9 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: worms in the leaves
harvest notes: harvest whole beet at any age, and eat the leaves too!
annual

We usually don’t recommend growing any roots from transplant (always direct seed things like carrots and radishes right into your garden), however last year we read about farms that were transplanting beets for better production, so we gave it a try and it worked. Because beets are in the swiss chard family they don’t mind being transplanted and will produce a healthy beet root 55 days after transplant. In terms of your home garden you can choose to do either. If you direct seed them you can eat the plants you thin out like micro greens.

For home gardens we chose a variety that has a small top, so it doesn’t take up too much space. Beet tops are basically swiss chard so don’t neglect them in the kitchen, be sure to eat them too. This variety also tolerates crowding so you can plant yourself a whole beet square foot with like 14-9 plants so long as you plan on harvesting some young and leave the rest to mature with the extra space made from your early harvest.