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

Beetroot 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 even vegetables are canned for the winter. Let's take a closer look at the best varieties of beets and identify their distinctive features.

Types of beets

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

1. Table beet- a vegetable familiar and familiar to everyone, which is used by most housewives.
2. Fodder varieties have a light color and an elongated 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. Beetroot, or Swiss chard... It is appreciated for its high content of carotene, acids and useful microelements.

Characteristics and description of the best varieties

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

1. Red ball

Red ball 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 versatile variety; beets are consumed both fresh and after heat treatment. Harvest at the end of September, before the onset of frost. In care, the variety does not require special knowledge and skills.

2. Merchant's wife

The Kupchikha variety appeared thanks to the labors 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, she tolerates frost and heat without problems. Root crops are round and even, have a rich burgundy color. The pulp is sweet and pleasant. Due to the dense skin, beets are stored for a long time, do not lose their taste and benefits.

The merchant's wife is used for preparing vitamin dishes... For example, they prepare a salad of beets and prunes, make cold appetizers with garlic, and beet juice. The root vegetable is quickly and easily cooked, it is peeled without problems.

3. Incomparable

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

The root crop is flat-round, the skin is dark red. The flesh is burgundy, often with rich black rings. Fruit weight varies from 150 to 400 g. Incomparable excellent for canning, contains many vitamins and trace elements.

4. The dark woman

The mass 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. They are planted when the soil warms up with the spring sun. Beets need regular watering, weeding and thinning... The dark-haired woman is widely used for preparing diet meals. It is boiled, stewed and steamed, used in salads.The taste of the variety is rich, with a sweetish tinge.

Advice... An important condition for obtaining a rich harvest is quality seeds. A simple way helps to check them for germination: take a container of water, place the seeds there and stir clockwise. Those that remained on the surface are empty and fit for landing.

5. Larka

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

6. Cardinal

The harvest of Cardinal beets ripens in 100-120 days from the moment of planting. The vegetable is grown in sunny and fertile beds. Cardinal belongs to hybrid varieties, due to this it has a high immunity to common diseases, 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 long shelf life and keeping quality. Suitable for soups, salads, side dishes and stuffing.

7. Lady

A universal variety, especially popular with summer residents of central Russia. It is better to plant the plant after tomatoes or cucumbers. To obtain 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 re-dug up and sand or lime is added. This reduces the acidity of the soil and creates more favorable conditions for the beets.

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

8. Farmer

The mid-early variety Khutoryanka is a compact and even fruit of a red-burgundy color. The pulp without rings, maroon, rich and sweet taste. The farmer is moderately resistant to pests, therefore, preventive measures must be taken. Once a week, the beet beds are sprayed with soapy water 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 or Herring under a fur coat salad. And beetroot juice contains amino acids, natural antioxidants and a whole supply of vitamins.

9. Gypsy girl

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

10. Bohemia

An early maturing variety, ripens in just 70-80 days after germination. Fruits are round, even, maroon color. They are planted mainly in a seedless way, 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, Bohemian beets are regularly thinned and loosened.

11. Matryona

Matryona is a cold-resistant and unpretentious variety. For these qualities, he is especially loved by the gardeners of the Urals and Siberia. The variety is early maturing, ripens in 80-90 days. Root crops are oblong, slightly cylindrical in shape. The peel is red-pink, glossy. The pulp is juicy and does not lose its attractive burgundy color during cooking. The variety is immune to fungal infections and viral diseases. From 1 sq. m summer residents collect 8-10 delicious and beautiful vegetables.

12. Egyptian flat

The weight of the beets is about 300 g, the shape is elongated, round-oval.The rind and flesh are dark red with a purple tinge. Productivity - from 5 to 8 kg per 1 sq.m. To prevent disease, experienced gardeners recommend growing the variety using seedlings.

Dishes from Egyptian flat beets contain cobalt, iron, calcium and magnesium necessary for the body. It has a diuretic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect. The vegetable is 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 be mistaken with the choice of the 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, while others show excellent results in areas of more risky farming, where recurrent 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 the temperate zone of Russia, the varieties Larka, Matryona and Tsyganochka grow well.

It is also important what the future harvest is intended for. For storage and long-term use, varieties with a dense skin are suitable. For example, beetroot Red ball or Darkie are able to retain their beneficial properties and sweet taste for a whole year. For this, vegetables are placed in a cool, dry and dark place.

Many growers prefer ring-free varieties.... They are considered to be the tastiest and healthiest. The leaders are recognized varieties Boltardi, Egyptian flat, Detroit and Bohemia. The pulp of these varieties contains a large amount of antioxidants that have antiseptic and vaso-strengthening properties.

Reviews of gardeners

Some summer residents prefer early-ripening beet varieties that are unpretentious in care. For others, the first place is the taste of the product and its useful properties.

Maria, St. Petersburg: «I always grow at least three beetroot varieties in my garden. My favorites are Matryona and Bohemia. I love their look and taste. I use it for seasonal dishes and canning. In winter, these beets are very tasty and juicy ”.

Alexander, Omsk: “Every year I try to grow a new variety. Last season, Kupchikha planted beets. Despite the positive reviews, the harvest did not impress me. The vegetables turned out to be soft, and the yield is not high. "

Evgeniya, Oryol: "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 a minimum of time and effort to care for. "

Conclusion

Beets are an indispensable product for proper nutrition. In order not to look for high-quality and natural vegetables on supermarket shelves, gardeners often prefer to grow beets on their own. This review will help you determine the variety of the best beet varieties and choose the most suitable one 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 get familiar with their taste.