Beets, Bull's Blood

Bull's Blood is grown primarily for its stunning deep burgundy leaves that are gorgeous in salad mixes or as ornamental edging. The roots are edible too, but the real star is that intense red foliage that adds dramatic color and earthy-sweet flavor to mesclun.

Beets: Beets are the ultimate dual-harvest garden superstars, providing both nutrient-dense greens within weeks and sweet, earthy roots in 50-70 days—all from a single, edible plant. Modern cultivars offer vibrant diversity, including golden (non-staining), striped Chioggia (candy-cane interior), and cylindrical shapes perfect for uniform slicing, with flavors ranging from sugary-sweet to mineral-rich.

• Growing Tips: Transplant 4 weeks before the last frost for a spring crop or midsummer for a fall harvest; space plants 3-4 inches apart, thinning seedlings progressively and eating the thinnings as microgreens.

• Sun Requirements: Full sun (6+ hours) to partial shade (4-6 hours minimum); tolerates more shade than most root crops.

• Preferred Soil: Loose, well-drained, fertile soil free of rocks or obstructions; optimal pH 6.5-7.5; avoid fresh manure which causes forked roots.

• Harvest Details: Harvest greens continuously before root maturity; pull baby roots at 1-1.5 inches for maximum tenderness or mature roots at 2-3 inches in diameter (50-70 days).