Walking down the seed aisle or scrolling through an online catalog, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when every beet variety looks tempting. Bright colors, juicy descriptions, promises of perfect harvests… and yet, you’re left thinking: Which one do I actually need?
Many beginners end up buying several random packets just in case or leave empty-handed, unsure where to start. But the real question isn’t which beet is best in general, it’s which beet is best for you.
Do you want early harvests or long-term storage? Do you prefer classic reds or something colorful and unusual?
In this guide, we’ll help you figure out exactly what to look for based on your goals and break down the differences between popular varieties and seed types, so you can choose with confidence.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
- What Is Beetroot and What Are Its Types?
- Classic Round Beets: Detroit Beet
- Classic Stretched Beetroot: Cylindra
- Egyptian Turnip Rooted Beetroot
- Chioggia Beets: Eye-Catching Looks, Sweet Flavor
- Still Not Sure? Try a Mix
What Is Beetroot and What Are Its Types?
Beetroot is a root vegetable that’s part of the Amaranth family. Most people know it as the deep red veggie used in salads, juices, and soups, but there’s more to it than just the common table beet. Here are the main types of beets you’ll come across:
- Red Beets (Table Beets)
The classic variety you find in stores. Known for their bold color and earthy taste, they’re used in everything from borscht to beet salads.
- Fodder Beets
These are grown as animal feed, with both the leaves and roots used to feed livestock.
- Sugar Beets
A pale, white variety used to make refined sugar. You won’t see these in stores much, but they’re a major crop in the sugar industry.
- Leaf Beets (a.k.a. Swiss Chard)
Grown mostly for their greens, not the root. The leaves are cooked like spinach and are packed with nutrients.
Did You Know? What we call a beet “seed” is technically a fruit, more specifically a type of nut.
All beetroots are derived from the wild beet, originally from India and the Far East. Initially, only the leaves were consumed, while the roots were used for making medicinal concoctions. The ancient Greeks offered beets as sacrifices to Apollo. Today, beetroots are utilized for animal feed, sugar production, and culinary purposes.
Beetroots are beneficial for reducing blood pressure and providing the body with folic acid, potassium, and antioxidants.
Interesting Fact. Famous physicians like Avicenna, Hippocrates, and Paracelsus included beet juice in their medicinal potions.
Beetroots are primarily grown for their roots in gardening, but the leaves and stems are also edible. The classic beetroot is red, but selective breeding has produced white, yellow, pink, and striped varieties. Beetroots can grow in almost any climate and are storable for 2-6 months.
Rules for Selecting Beetroot Seeds
The type of seeds you choose is based on your goals for growing beets.
- Fast Harvest. Depending on the variety, beets can take anywhere from 50 to 135 days to mature.
- Storage. If you intend to store the root beets for later use.
- Leafy Beets. If your focus is on growing beets primarily for their leaves and young fruits.
Beet Seed Varieties
Many experienced gardeners enjoy growing beets of various shapes and colors. If either the shape or color of the beetroot matters to you, choosing the right variety is essential.
Classic Round Beets: Detroit Beet
The Detroit Beet is one of, if not the most, popular beet varieties available. It is a classic type known for its numerous seeds at the base, making it versatile enough for growing leaves (for salads), root crops, and microgreens. The root crops are ball-shaped, with a diameter of up to 2.7 inches (7 cm), and weigh between 120 and 200 grams (4.2 and 7.1 ounces). This variety is categorized as either early-ripening or mid-early, depending on the seed type. The skin of the rootstock is dark red, while the flesh is dense and juicy dark maroon.
Key Benefits Detroit Beet
- Stable yield. Forms uniform, medium sized roots that are easy to harvest and process.
- Good taste. Naturally sweet and tender, with little risk of becoming fibrous even when mature.
- Cold tolerant. Can be sown early and handles light frost well.
- Stores well. Maintains flavor and texture for months, making it a good choice for winter storage.
- Reliable germination. Sprouts consistently, even in less than ideal soil conditions.
Brief Guide to Sowing Round Beetroot
| Method | Direct sowing into the ground |
| Sowing depth | 15 mm |
| Time of year | Spring, summer, fall, winter (in subtropics) |
| Germination | 5-10 days at a temperature of 50 F |
| Life cycle | Can produce crops in one year. However, a two-year cycle is needed to produce seed.
This makes them both annual and biennial. |
| Row spacing | 20 inches (50 cm) apart |
| Spacing between plants | 4 inches (10 cm) |
| Care | Full sun, moist, well-drained soil. |
| Full maturity | 60 days |
Popular Round Beet Varieties
- Bulls Blood
- Early Wonder
- Golden Globe – yellow beet, it does not produce red juice.
- Golden Detroit – yellow beet, it does not produce red juice.
- White Detroit – white beet, it does not produce red juice.
- Boro
- Lutz Green Leaf
- Merlin
- Red Ball
- Red Ace
Classic Stretched Beetroot
The most popular type of stretched beetroot is Beetroot Cylindra, which is a classic medium-ripening variety. The maturity period from the moment of planting is 120 days. Its root crops are dark burgundy and cylindrical with thin skin. The weight of root crops ranges from 250 to 600 g (8.8 to 21.1 oz). Additionally, the shelf life is more than 4 months.
Why Choose Cylindra
- Great for cooking and preserving. The uniform shape and smooth skin make them ideal for roasting, stewing, pickling, and slicing into appetizers or salads.
- Tolerates drought and resists diseases. A reliable choice in warm or dry regions where other varieties may struggle.
- Space-saving. The narrow roots allow for denser planting compared to round beets.
What to Keep in Mind. If planted too early and exposed to a late frost, this variety may “bolt” (go to flower), which ruins the root.
Brief Sowing Guide for Stretched Beetroot
| Method | Direct sowing into the ground |
| Sowing depth | 15 mm |
| Time of year | Spring, summer, fall, winter (in subtropics) |
| Germination | 5-10 days at a temperature of 50 F |
| Life cycle | Biennial and annual plant. A one-year cycle is needed to produce beets, and a two-year cycle is needed to produce seed. |
| Row spacing | 20 inches (50 cm) apart |
| Spacing between plants | 3 inches (8 cm) |
| Care | Full sun, moist, well-drained soil |
| Full maturity | 60 – 120 days |
Popular Varieties of Elongated Beetroot
Egyptian Turnip Rooted Beetroot
This variety features root crops with a distinctive flattened shape, typically weighing around 300 grams. The flesh is dark red, sometimes with a purple tint. It is a medium-ripening variety, and the roots partially protrude above the ground, making them easier to harvest.
Why Gardeners Choose It
- Sweet and juicy flavor. One of the better-tasting options if you’re looking for tender roots for fresh eating or cooking.
- Rich color. The flesh is deeply pigmented, which makes it great for presentation and adds to its nutritional value.
- Tough and adaptable. Performs well across a variety of climates, making it a reliable choice in most regions.
- Disease-resistant. Holds up well against many common beet diseases.
- Stores easily. The flat roots are convenient to stack and store — especially in shallow containers or tight spaces.
What to Watch For. Smaller beets tend to dry out faster. It’s best to use the smaller ones first and store only the larger roots for long-term keeping.
Brief Guide to Sowing Egyptian Turnip Beetroot
| Method | Direct sowing into the ground |
| Sowing depth | 15 mm |
| Time of year | Spring, summer, fall, winter (in subtropics) |
| Germination | 5-10 days at a temperature of 50 F |
| Life cycle | Biennial and annual plant. A one-year cycle is needed to produce beets, and a two-year cycle is needed to produce seed. |
| Row spacing | 20 inches (50 cm) apart |
| Spacing between plants | 4 inches (10 cm) |
| Care | Full sun, moist, well-drained soil |
| Full maturity | 80 days |
Popular Varieties of Egyptian Beetroot
There aren’t many seed options available under the “Egyptian” name, but here are a few you can find online:
- Crosby Egyptian. A classic, flat-rooted heirloom variety known for its early maturity and sweet, tender flesh.
- Egyptian Flat Beet. Another name used for similar strains, often found in mixed seed packs or heirloom collections.
Chioggia Beets: Eye-Catching Looks, Sweet Flavor
Chioggia is one of the most visually striking beet varieties. It may look plain burgundy on the outside, but when sliced, it reveals beautiful pink and white rings, which is why it is often called the candy cane beet. Originally bred in Italy in the 1800s, this heirloom variety remains popular for its sweet flavor and fast growth.
Why You Might Like It
- Fast growing. Ready to harvest in about 60 days, making it one of the earliest maturing varieties.
- Exceptionally sweet. Chioggia is often considered one of the sweetest beets, with juicy, tender flesh.
- Great raw or cooked. It adds a unique look and mild flavor to salads, especially when sliced thin.
- A few things to consider. Like all beets, it has an earthy note, and in Chioggia some gardeners find it slightly stronger after cooking.
Brief Guide to Sowing Chiogga Beets
| Method | Direct sowing into the ground |
| Sowing depth | 15 mm |
| Time of year | Spring, summer, fall, winter (in subtropics) |
| Germination | 5-10 days at a temperature of 50 F |
| Life cycle | Biennial and annual plant. A one-year cycle is needed to produce beets, and a two-year cycle is needed to produce seed. |
| Row spacing | 20 inches (50 cm) apart |
| Spacing between plants | 4 inches (10 cm) |
| Care | Full sun, moist, well-drained soil |
| Full maturity | 60 – 65 days |
Popular Varieties of Chioggia Beet
Other Beet Varieties
In addition to garden beets, there are also varieties of leaf beets, sugar beets, and ornamental beets. Each category has dozens of unique seed varieties. However, this article will focus solely on garden beets. More information about chard and ornamental beets can be found in our other articles.
Still Not Sure? Try a Mix
If you are still undecided, that is completely fine. The best way to find your perfect beet is to grow a few different varieties and see how they perform in your garden.
Each type may respond differently to your local climate, soil, and care, and tasting them side by side is the easiest way to understand what you like most.
Start with a small mix. It’s low risk, fun to experiment with, and you might be surprised which one becomes your favorite.
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