Beetroot
Beta vulgaris

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

A dark green leafed plant. The plant is upright and about 20 cm tall. It can be grown as an annual plant. Normally it gives a thickened root in the first year then flowers in the second year. The leaves vary in shape and colour. They can be oval with an irregular wavy edge. They can be dark green or reddish. It has a round or elongated fattened root. The root is red in colour. (White varieties also occur). The flowers are small and green and have both sexes. They occur in flower arrangements with the end bud a flower bud. This forms a tall, branching, spike-like arrangement. The fruit are one seed. Often 2 or more seeds are joined together in a "seedball". Plants are wind cross pollinated.

Chemical composition: Fat = 5.75% (dry). Albumenoids = 13.92% (dry). Carbohydrates = 45.55% (dry). Fibre = 17.85% (dry). Ash = 16.93% (dry). Nitrogen - 2.23% (dry). Phosphoric acid = .50% (dry). Silicates = .86% (dry). Probably all Beta are one species and 2 main forms - Cicla - for leaves, and Contiva - for roots. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It is mainly in the highlands between 1150 and 2600 m altitude in the tropics. Plants are frost resistant. Plants grow best at 18-22°C. Temperatures below 10°C cause the plant to start its seeding phase. It is sensitive to acid soils but can grow in alkaline soils up to pH 10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Georgia, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Moldova, Myanmar, Niger, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Sicily, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The red tubers are eaten after cooking. The root is also dried and powdered and the flour mixed with barley or wheat. They can be pickled or fermented as beetroot juice. They are often boiled, sliced and served with vinegar. Tops or leaves are edible. They are cooked in soups and stews. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Roots, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Normally the plants are planted in the final site because transplanting is difficult. When the small clump of seeds or seed ball are planted more than one seedling will result. Plants get a soft heart due to boron deficiency. This is treated with borax.

Its other names

Local names

Aitiace, Barba, Barbabietola, Bendjar, Beteraba, Betterave, Bit palang, Bittsu, Caiduong, Chaouender, Chukandar, Cu den, Divlja blitva, Giri, Hatrab, Hezab, Left m 'ta el-baqar, Palak, Palang sag, Palang, Palanki, Remolacha, Remolatsa, Rossa, Rote bete, Rote rube, Salachi, Selk, Sellak, Semlakh, Serj, Sildj, Silk el Belebcha, Silk, Table beet, Tian cai

Synonyms

Probably now Beta vulgaris Crassa group; Beta altissima Steud.; Beta brasiliensis Voss, nom. inval.; Beta vulgaris cv. conditiva Alef.; Beta vulgaris cv. saccharifera Alef.; Beta vulgaris var. altissima Doll; Beta vulgaris var. crassa Alef.;