Description
Beetroot Bulls Blood is a heat tolerant summer variety which holds its magnificent red colour in high temperatures.
This dual purpose variety can be harvested at any stage of growth, use the leaves in salads or steamed like spinach, or the roots can be left to grow like any other beetroot.
The leaves are broader than other beetroot varieties and they can be harvested for baby leaf salads in as little as 35 days.
Left to mature they have a particularly sweet taste when cooked, while the medium-sized spherical roots are tender and have a great flavour especially when young.
Very easy to grow, for very little effort, you can be rewarded with a delightful and delicious addition to any meal. Home grown beets, leaf or root are like nothing you will find in the supermarket produce aisle.
Bull’s Blood also makes a striking ornamental plant, it is fully deserving of a place in borders and in beds and makes a dramatic foil to pale coloured flowers.
It can be scattered among perennials, grasses and other contrasting foliage and can be sown as a annual with other plantings.
Bull’s Blood are also sold under the name ‘Ornamental Beets’, they make a very nice dot plant, and if you get fed up with them, you can always eat them.
Find your Climate Zone
Method: Sow direct
| Soil Temp: 7°C - 25°C
|
Cool Mountain: Sep - Apr
| Position: Full sun
|
Arid: Feb - Dec
| Harvest: 55 Days
|
Temperate: Jul - Apr
| Row Spacing: 10cm
|
Sub Tropical: Jan - Dec
| Planting Depth: 10 mm
|
Tropical: Mar - Jun
| Plant Height: 13cm
|
Sowing Beetroot Seeds
Direct Sowing:
- Soak seeds overnight in water or Seasol solution to soften the corky coating.
- Sow 1 cm deep, 10cm apart, in rows 40cm apart.
- Each seed is a cluster that produces 2 – 3 seedlings.
- Thin seedlings to 10 cm apart once seedlings are 3 – 5cm tall to prevent overcrowding.
Benefits:
- Less work is involved
- Reduces transplant shock
Sowing in Trays:
- Fill plug trays with seed raising mix.
- Plant 2 – 3 seeds per cell, 1cm deep.
- Thin to 1–2 strong seedlings per cell after germination which should be 5 – 10 days.
- Transplant seedlings outdoors when seedlings are 3 – 5cm tall, spacing 10 cm apart.
Benefits:
- Ideal for early starts or staggered planting.
- Protects from pests and weather.
Key Tips: Beetroots dislike root disturbance. Handle seedlings gently during transplanting.
Companion Planting Guide
Beetroot thrives with plants that deter pests, improve soil, or share space efficiently.
Good Companions:
- Onions/Garlic: Repel aphids and flea beetles.
- Bush beans/Peas: Fix nitrogen in soil, boosting beet growth.
- Lettuce/Spinach: Shallow roots avoid competition; lettuce may improve beet flavour.
- Cabbage family: Kohlrabi, kale, and broccoli loosen soil with deep roots.
- Radishes: Break up soil, deter pests, and act as a marker crop.
- Marigolds/Tagetes: Repel nematodes and attract pollinators.
Avoid Planting With:
- Nightshades (Tomatoes, Potatoes): Compete for nutrients and attract similar pests.
- Chard/Spinach: Same family (Chenopodiaceae); risk of disease spread.
- Corn/Leek: Shade beetroots or stunt growth.
Pro Tip: Interplant with dill or oregano to enhance flavour and deter pests.
Seed Saving Guide
Beetroot is biennial; seeds form in the second year.
Steps to Save Seeds
1. Select Plants: Choose healthy, disease free beets. Allow only one variety to flower to prevent crosspollination.
2. Overwintering:
- In cold regions: Dig up roots in autumn. Trim leaves, store in damp sand (not touching) in a cool, frost free spot.
- In warm climates: Leave roots in ground; mulch with straw.
3. Replant in Spring: Space roots 10cm apart. Water regularly until flowering.
4. Harvest Seeds:
- Wait for seed heads to turn brown.
- Cut stalks and dry for 7 – 14 days.
- Rub heads over a bowl to release seeds.
- Store in labelled jars in a cool, dark place.
- Viable for 3 years .
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Bolting: Caused by heat or drought.
- Use bolt resistant varieties such as Boltardy and mulch to retain moisture.
Pests:
- Slugs/Snails: Use beer traps.
- Leaf Miners: Remove affected leaves; cover with insect mesh.
Woody/Split Roots:
- Inconsistent watering.
- Keep soil evenly moist and avoid waterlogging .
Harvesting Tips
Leaves:
- Harvest outer leaves at 4–6 weeks for salads.
Roots:
- Pull baby beets at 3 – 6 cm or golfball size.
- Mature beets, up to 10cm, are edible but may be tougher.
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