Top 12 best beet varieties: overview of different types and tips for choosing the most suitable one

Beet varieties are very diverse. Some are ideal for the southern regions of the country, while others take root in the northern regions. Sweet varieties are actively used in cooking; small and smooth vegetables are preserved for the winter. Let's take a closer look at the best beet varieties and identify their distinctive features.

Types of beets

In summer cottages you can most often find table beets. And there is also fodder, leaf and sugar. Let's see how they differ:

1. Table beet - a familiar and familiar vegetable to everyone, which is used by most housewives.
2. Feed varieties They are light in color and elongated in shape; they are grown as feed for farm animals.
3. Sugar varieties grown for further sugar production. Such beets are planted only on fertile and nutritious soils.
4. Swiss chard or Swiss chard. It is valued for its high content of carotene, acids and useful microelements.

Characteristics and description of the best varieties

The title of the best goes to those varieties that are unpretentious in care, have high taste and are universal in use. Below is the top 12 best beet varieties.

1. Red ball

Red beetroot is an early ripening variety. The vegetables are smooth and even, the average weight of one is 300 g. The root vegetable has a dark red color, juicy and tasty pulp.This is a universal variety; beets are consumed both fresh and after heat treatment. Harvest at the end of September, before frost sets in. The variety does not require special knowledge and skills to care for.

2. Merchant's wife

The Kupchikha variety appeared thanks to the work of breeders from Siberia. Shows high and stable yields even in unpredictable weather conditions. The merchant's wife has good immunity to diseases and pests and can withstand frost and heat without problems. The roots are round and even, have a rich burgundy color. The pulp is sweet and pleasant. Thanks to the dense peel, beets are stored for a long time and do not lose their taste and benefits.

The merchant's wife is being used for preparing vitamin dishes. For example, they prepare a salad from beets and prunes, make cold appetizers with the addition of garlic, and make beet juice. The root vegetable cooks quickly and easily, and can be peeled without any problems.

3. Incomparable

An early-ripening variety, gardeners receive their first harvest 60 days after planting. It is best to grow root vegetables in beds after legumes or tomatoes. For care, Incomparable requires regular watering with settled water and timely fertilizing. Moisten the soil every five days, feed once every two weeks. Experienced gardeners recommend alternating mineral and organic fertilizers.

The root vegetable is flat-round, the skin has a dark red color. The flesh is burgundy, often with rich black rings. The weight of the fruit varies from 150 to 400 g. Incomparable, it is excellent for canning and contains many vitamins and microelements.

4. Dark-skinned woman

The weight of one beet is 250-400 g, the pulp is juicy, with a purple tint. The Smuglyanka variety is grown in fertile and loose soil.Planted when the soil is warmed by the spring sun. Beets need regular watering, weeding and thinning. Dark-skinned pork is widely used for preparing dietary dishes. It is boiled, stewed and steamed, and used in salads. The taste of the variety is rich, with a sweetish tint.

Advice. An important condition for obtaining a rich harvest is high-quality seeds. A simple method helps to check their germination: take a container of water, place the seeds there and stir clockwise. Those that remain on the surface are empty and not suitable for landing.

5. Chest

The table variety Larka appeared in 1998. The vegetables are smooth, round, the average weight of one is 250 g. They have a dark red color and bright flesh with faint rings. The ripening period is average, about 90-110 days. The yield is high, 2-6.5 kg per 1 sq. m. Gardeners recommend using Lark beets for processing.

6. Cardinal

The Cardinal beet harvest ripens within 100-120 days from planting. The vegetable is grown in sunny and fertile beds. Cardinal is a hybrid variety, due to this it has high immunity to common diseases and shows a stable harvest both in the south and in the north of the country. The weight of the root crop varies from 220 to 350 g. The pulp is dark red, juicy and sweet. The Cardinal variety has a long shelf life and shelf life. Suitable for soups, salads, side dishes and stuffing.

7. Lady

A universal variety, especially popular among summer residents in central Russia. It is better to plant the plant after tomatoes or cucumbers. To get a rich harvest, gardeners recommend digging up the beds in the fall and adding liquid mullein to them. With the arrival of spring, the earth is dug up again and sand or lime is added.This allows you to reduce the acidity of the soil and create more favorable conditions for beets.

The average weight of Barynya is about 150-250 g. The pulp is red and has a high taste. Beets ripen in 100-120 days and are unpretentious in care. In addition to watering and weeding, the Lady needs timely feeding with ash, ammonium nitrate, and liquid bird droppings. Productivity per 1 sq. m ranges from 4 to 7 kg.

8. Farmer

The mid-early variety Khutoryanka has compact and even fruits of red-burgundy color. The pulp is without rings, dark burgundy, the taste is rich and sweet. The farmer is moderately resistant to pests, so it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. Once a week, the beet beds are sprayed with a soap solution or ash solution. The variety is valued for its taste, heat resistance and keeping quality during winter storage.

Interesting! Beetroot is an indispensable ingredient for preparing dishes such as vinaigrette, beetroot soup or Herring under a Fur Coat salad. And beet juice contains amino acids, natural antioxidants and a whole supply of vitamins.

9. Gypsy

The Tsyganochka variety is mid-season. The root crop is red, round. The weight of one is about 250-350 g. The pulp is without rings, dark red and tender. Gypsy can be stored without problems and retains its external and taste qualities. This is a variety of universal use: for cooking, canning, long-term storage and obtaining bunched products (the first and earliest harvest of root crops).

10. Bohemia

An early ripening variety, ripens in just 70-80 days after germination. The fruits are round, smooth, dark burgundy in color. They are planted mainly using the seedless method, having previously disinfected the seeds.The distance between plants should be at least 40 cm, otherwise the bushes will not have enough space and sunlight. To obtain a richer harvest, Boheme beets are regularly thinned and loosened.

11. Matryona

Matryona is a cold-resistant and unpretentious variety. For these qualities, gardeners in the Urals and Siberia especially love it. The variety is early ripening, ripens in 80-90 days. The roots are oblong, slightly cylindrical in shape. The peel is red-pink, glossy. The pulp is juicy and does not lose its attractive burgundy color when cooked. The variety is immune to fungal infections and viral diseases. From 1 sq. m summer residents collect 8-10 tasty and beautiful vegetables.

12. Egyptian flat

The beet weight is about 300 g, the shape is elongated, round-oval. The peel and pulp are dark red, with a purple tint. Productivity – from 5 to 8 kg per 1 sq.m. To prevent diseases, experienced gardeners recommend growing the variety using seedlings.

Egyptian flat beet dishes contain cobalt, iron, calcium and magnesium necessary for the body. It has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect. Vegetable consumed for the prevention of thrombophlebitis and atherosclerosis. As a dietary product, it is useful for diabetes and hypertension.

Tips for choosing

In order not to make a mistake when choosing a variety, pay attention to the conditions under which the crop will ripen. Some varieties are suitable only for cultivation in regions with warm and temperate climates, others show excellent results in more risky farming areas, where return frosts (even in early June), rain and wind are frequent.In the Urals and Siberia, it is recommended to grow cold-resistant and unpretentious varieties, for example, Red Ball, Egyptian Flat and Bohemia. In temperate Russia, the varieties Larka, Matryona and Tsyganochka grow well.

It is also important what the future harvest is intended for. Varieties with thick skin are suitable for storage and long-term use. For example, Red Ball or Smuglyanka beets are able to retain their beneficial properties and sweet taste for a whole year. To do this, vegetables are placed in a cool, dry and dark place.

Many gardeners prefer to grow varieties without rings. They are considered to be the most delicious and healthy. The varieties Boltardi, Egyptian flat, Detroit and Bohemia are recognized as leaders. The pulp of these varieties contains a large amount of antioxidants, which have antiseptic and vascular strengthening properties.

Reviews from gardeners

Some summer residents prefer early-ripening beet varieties that are easy to care for. For others, the taste of the product and its beneficial properties come first.

Maria, St. Petersburg: «I always grow at least three beet varieties in my garden. My favorites are Matryona and Boheme. I like their appearance and taste. I use it for seasonal dishes and canning. When prepared in winter, these beets turn out very tasty and juicy.”

Alexander, Omsk: “Every year I try to grow a new variety. Last season I planted Kupchikha beets. Despite the positive reviews, I was not impressed with the harvest. The vegetables turned out soft, and the yield was not high.”

Evgeniya, Orel: “For me, the main thing is the usefulness of the vegetable. The varieties Tsyganochka, Smuglyanka and Red Ball are excellent for my diet.I grow them every year; they require minimal time and effort to care for.”

Conclusion

Beets are an indispensable product in proper nutrition. In order not to look for high-quality and natural vegetables on supermarket shelves, gardeners often prefer to grow beets themselves. This review will help you decide on the variety of best beet varieties and choose the one most suitable for the climatic conditions of your region. Many summer residents prefer cold-resistant varieties that can be stored for a long time. Other varieties can be grown to test their taste.