Beta vulgaris

Beta vulgaris — one versatile species giving beetroot, chard, leaf beet and sugar beet, all descended from the wild Mediterranean sea beet. The botanical home of our beetroot and chard.

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  • 22,00 zł

    Four-colour beet mix for patio growing beetroot seeds Hula Hoop are a vibrant choice for anyone looking for a beetroot seeds 4 color mix with attractive, round roots. This annual vegetable selection brings together contrasting...

  • 22,00 zł

    Fodder beetroot variety for practical feeding Fodder beetroot seeds ‘Brigadier’ are an annual vegetable crop grown for substantial roots and useful leafy tops. This variety is commonly chosen as a livestock feed beet seed and...

  • Nasiona buraka Burpee's Golden o żółtym miąższu (Beta vulgaris) – roślina jednoroczna Burak Burpee's Golden o żółtym miąższu (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne nasiona warzyw od SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Golden beetroot variety for colourful kitchen use beetroot burpee's golden seeds are a distinctive vegetable choice for gardeners who want a bright, yellow-fleshed beet with a mild, sweet flavour and a smooth texture. This annual...

  • Nasiona buraka ćwikłowego Kogel 2 (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Beetroot Kogel 2 (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    16,00 zł20,00 zł

    Odmiana buraka do okrągłych czerwonych korzeni Nasiona buraka jednorocznej odmiany Kogel 2, cenionej za produkcję jednolitych, okrągłych, czerwonych korzeni. Te nasiona Beta vulgaris są przeznaczone dla ogrodników poszukujących niezawodnej uprawy warzyw korzeniowych o klasycznym kształcie...

  • Nasiona buraka ćwikłowego mieszanka kolorów okrągłe korzenie (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Beetroot Mixed Colours Mixture Round Roots (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Mixed colour beetroot seeds for round roots beetroot seeds in a mixed-colour selection are a simple way to add variety to your root vegetable garden seeds, with round roots in several attractive shades. This annual...

  • 22,00 zł

    Detroit Early beetroot for reliable garden harvests Beetroot seeds for the well-known Detroit Early type are a classic choice for gardeners who want an early beet cultivar with consistent shape and color. This round red...

  • 22,00 zł

    Distinctive striped roots for kitchen and garden beetroot tonda di chioggia seeds produce a classic striped beetroot variety known for its round shape and eye-catching interior rings. This annual vegetable root crop develops smooth, thin-skinned...

  • 24,00 zł

    Wielobarwna boćwina do żywej dekoracji ogrodu Nasiona wielobarwnej boćwiny to efektowny wybór rocznego warzywa liściastego, cenionego za jasne, tęczowe łodygi i bujne, zielone liście. Często znana jako bright lights chard lub rainbow swiss chard, ta...

  • Nasiona buraka Chioggia (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Burak Chioggia (Beta vulgaris) – nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Burak Chioggia z efektownym, różowo prążkowanym miąższem Nasiona buraka Chioggia to jednoroczny wybór warzywny dla ogrodników pragnących uzyskać oryginalny, dekoracyjny korzeń na talerzu. Ta odmiana prążkowanego buraka słynie z efektownego wzoru różowo-białych koncentrycznych pierścieni, widocznych...

  • Nasiona buraka ćwikłowego Egyptian Turnip Rooted (Beta vulgaris) – ekologiczne jednoroczne warzywo Beetroot Egyptian Turnip Rooted (Beta vulgaris) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Organiczny burak ćwikłowy do wczesnych zbiorów letnich Nasiona buraka egipskiego o spłaszczonym korzeniu to organiczny wybór dla ogrodników pragnących niezawodnej, wczesnoletniejodmiany buraka o atrakcyjnych, płasko-okrągłych korzeniach. To jednoroczne warzywo korzeniowe cenione jest za konsekwentne wyniki...

  • Nasiona buraka ćwikłowego Loki (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Beetroot Loki (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Beetroot variety for round, dark red roots beetroot seeds for an annual vegetable crop, selected for compact foliage and uniform, round roots with a deep, dark red colour. This round red beet variety is well...

  • 20,00 zł

    Detroit 2 beetroot for reliable garden harvests Beetroot seeds for the classic Detroit 2 annual variety are a popular choice for gardeners who want uniform, round roots with a rich red color. This detroit 2...

  • Nasiona boćwiny Peppermint (Beta vulgaris) – roczne warzywo Boćwina Peppermint (Beta vulgaris) – nasiona rocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Peppermint Swiss chard for colorful leaves swiss chard seeds ‘Peppermint’ are an annual leaf vegetable grown for their decorative, edible foliage and striking stems. This swiss chard peppermint variety stands out with white stems marked...

  • Nasiona buraka ćwikłowego Egyptian Flat Round (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Beetroot Egyptian Flat Round (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    16,00 zł20,00 zł

    Egyptian Flat Round beetroot for kitchen gardens beetroot seeds for the classic Egyptian Flat Round variety are a reliable choice for gardeners who want a traditional, early summer beet variety with a distinctive flattened, round...

  • Nasiona boćwiny Lucullus (Beta vulgaris) – roczne warzywo Boćwina Lucullus (Beta vulgaris) – nasiona rocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    20%
    16,00 zł20,00 zł

    Swiss chard variety Lucullus for leafy harvests swiss chard seeds ‘Lucullus’ are a classic choice for gardeners who want a dependable leaf vegetable with attractive, broad ribs and generous foliage. This annual leafy vegetable is...

  • 22,00 zł

    Nasiona tęczowej boćwiny na mikrolistki i liście baby Nasiona boćwiny w tęczowej mieszance to wszechstronny wybór do uprawy mikrolistków i liści baby, ceniony za kolorowe łodyżki i świeże zielone liście. Ta jednoroczna odmiana warzywna jest...

  • Nasiona buraka Cylindra (Beta vulgaris) – roślina jednoroczna Burak Cylindra (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne nasiona warzyw od SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Cylindra beetroot for neat, uniform slices beetroot cylindra seeds are an annual vegetable choice valued for their distinctive, half-long cylindrical roots and deep, dark red colour. This variety is often selected when you want consistent...

  • Nasiona białego buraka Albina Vereduna (Beta vulgaris) – jednoroczne warzywo Biały burak Albina Vereduna (Beta vulgaris) – nasiona jednorocznych warzyw od SeedsChoice
    18%
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Nasiona białego buraka ćwikłowego na jasne korzenie Nasiona białego buraka ćwikłowego to wyjątkowy wybór warzywny dla ogrodników pragnących uzyskać jasne, nieczerwonobarwne buraki do kuchni i ogródka. Ta biała odmiana buraka ćwikłowego znana jest jako Albina...

  • 22,00 zł

    Organic beetroot for classic Detroit 2 harvests beetroot detroit 2 seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a classic, round beetroot variety with deep red color and a uniform shape. This organic vegetable...

  • 22,00 zł

    Ekologiczny boćwina z efektownymi czerwonymi łodygami Nasiona boćwiny to dekoracyjne i plenne warzywo liściowe dla ogrodu kuchennego. Ta ekologiczna odmiana, znana również jako boćwina rabarbarowa, tworzy zielone liście z wyraźnym czerwonym unerwieniem i żywymi czerwonymi...

Beta vulgaris — beetroot, chard and leaf beet

Beta vulgaris is a single, remarkably versatile species that gives us beetroot, Swiss chard, leaf beet and even sugar beet. In the kitchen garden it covers our beetroot grown for roots and the colourful chard grown for our leafy greens, within the wider root vegetable range.

History & origin

All of these vegetables descend from the wild sea beet, a tough seaside plant of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe. The leafy forms came first: the ancient Greeks and Romans grew beet for its leaves, much as we grow chard today, while the swollen red root we call beetroot was developed later, becoming popular in Europe from around the 16th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries the same species gave rise to sugar beet, now a major source of the world's sugar.

Its name is simply the classical Latin beta for the plant, with vulgaris meaning “common.”

Botanical characteristics

A hardy biennial grown as an annual, the species is endlessly adaptable. Beetroot forms a sweet, earthy swollen root in red, golden, white or candy-striped; chard and leaf beet are grown for their glossy leaves and brightly coloured stems in pink, yellow, orange and white. Quick beetroot is forgiving enough to feature among our fast-growing vegetables, while chard is one of the most reliable cut-and-come-again leaves.

Growing Beta vulgaris from seed

Sow direct into well-prepared soil from spring, thinning the seedlings since each “seed” is actually a cluster. Keep plants evenly watered so the roots stay tender and the leaves keep coming, and sow successionally for a long season. Chard is especially hardy and crops on into autumn and winter. Our vegetable sowing calendar and soil guide cover the basics.

Ready to grow beetroot or chard? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Beetroot · Root Vegetables · Leafy Greens · Carrot · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beta vulgaris?
A single species that covers beetroot, Swiss chard, leaf beet and sugar beet.

Where does it originate?
From the wild sea beet of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe.

Which came first, the root or the leaf?
The leaves — the Greeks and Romans grew beet much like chard; the swollen beetroot came later.

Do I need to thin the seedlings?
Usually yes — each beet “seed” is a cluster, so thin them for good roots.

How do I grow it?
Sow direct from spring, thin the seedlings and keep evenly watered.