Types Of Beet: 26 Must-Grow Varieties For Your Garden

A colorful assortment of roots offering rich taste, nutrients, and eye-catching hues.

By Srija Burman

Created on Aug 28, 2025

A colorful assortment of roots offering rich taste, nutrients, and eye-catching hues.

26 Types of Beet You Need to Grow

Beets are a versatile and colorful addition to vegetable gardens, offering a spectrum of flavors, textures, and uses. Whether youâre looking for classic deep-red roots, candy-striped wonders, or golden gems, there are beet varieties for every palate and garden. Here, we dive deep into 26 essential types of beets every gardener should consider, alongside growing tips, variety characteristics, and culinary uses.

Why Grow Beets?

Nutrition: High in fiber, folate, potassium, and betalains (antioxidants).
Multiple Uses: Eat roots and greens; use for pickling, roasting, juicing, or salads.
Easy to Grow: Hardy and adaptable, suitable for both beginner and expert gardeners.

Color Categories of Beets

Most beets fall within three main color ranges:

Red and Purplish-Red: Most common, rich in betanin for dyes and food coloring, classic earthy flavor.
Golden: Milder taste, lacks staining pigments, ideal for lighter culinary applications.
White: Sweet, mild, and doesnât stain; great for specialty recipes.

Classic and Specialty Beet Varieties

Below is a comprehensive guide to popular and specialty beets, categorized by their primary attributes and uses.

1. Red Ace

Description: Adaptable, fast maturing, sweet and tender even when mature.
Tops: Medium-tall, strong, red-veined, excellent for bunching.
Flavor: Remarkably sweet and tender at any age.
Days to Harvest: About 50 days.

2. Robin

Specialty: Intended for harvesting as baby beets.
Tops: Short, upright green leaves â not ideal for greens.
Flavor: Tender, best for miniature root harvests.

3. Ruby Queen

Uses: Dual-purpose, great greens and uniform bulbs.
Flavor: Mild, sweetânot overpowering.
Appearance: Deep red exterior, deep pink inner rings.
Growth: Excellent for sowing thickly, use for baby greens and mature roots.

4. Subeto

Commercial Use: Very early, round, dark red beet; popular in farming.
Specs: Consistent size, shape, and flavor. Highly productive.
Tops: Smaller than similar varieties (e.g., Boros).

5. Warrior

Description: Hybrid; tender, sweet roots.
Appearance: Deep red inside and outside, green leaves, fuchsia stems.
Harvest: Quick maturing (just under 60 days).

6. Zeppo

Feature: Perfect flavor at all sizes, smooth skin, minimal root hairs.
Growth: Early-maturing, rapid.

7. Early Wonder

Time to Harvest: 45 days.
Bulbs: 3-4″ deep red, tall glossy greens, great for greens and pickling.
Notes: Also popular as microgreens.

8. Merlin

Growth: 48 days to harvest, 3″ diameter.
Specialty: High sugar content, excellent resistance to leaf spot and fungi.

9. Boro

Features: Cercospora-resistant, smooth red skin, large foliage.
Shape: Uniformly round.
Harvest: Around 50 days.

10. Chioggia Guardsmark

Appearance: Striking red and white striped interior, resembling a target.
Tops: Medium height, pink-striped stems.
Flavor: Mild, earthy, versatile for slicing.

11. Golden Boy

Color: Bright golden-orange flesh, non-staining.
Greens: Bright, tender, delicious.
Shape: Uniform, globe-shaped, up to 3″ in diameter.
Growth: 65â70 days to harvest, frost tolerant.
Plant Size: Tops can reach 12-18″ tall.
Best When Young: Sweetest and most tender if picked early.

Other Notable Beet Varieties

Detroit Dark Red: Classic heirloom, reliable and widely grown.
Lutz Green Leaf: Good for greens, large roots, keeps well.
Bullâs Blood: Deep red leaves, edible and ornamental, roots great for juicing and culinary use.
Albino: Unusual pure white beet, sweet, ideal as a non-staining option.
Touchstone Gold: Golden flesh, mild and sweet, excellent for gourmet use.
Cylindra: Long, cylinder-shaped root, easy to slice, popular in pickling.
Avalanche: White flesh, juicy texture, robust and sweet.
Badger Flame: Vibrant orange, low in earthy flavor, excellent for fresh eating.
Forono: Uniform, cylindrical, ideal for slicing and canning.
Golden: Mild, sweet, lowest in staining pigmentâgreat for salads.
Red Ball: Commercially popular, smooth round shape.
Red Baron: Rich color, high-yield, good for bunching greens.
Blankoma: Unique white beet, rare and sought after for specialty markets.
MacGregorâs Favorite: Deep red, robust flavor, large greens.
Mammoth Red Mangel: Giant roots, primarily for animal feed, but edible.
Pablo: Uniform, round, high productivity.

Table: Beet Variety Comparison

Variety	Color	Flavor	Days to Harvest	Best Uses
Red Ace	Red	Sweet, tender	50	Bunching, slicing
Ruby Queen	Deep red	Mild, sweet, nutty	55	Canning, pickling, greens
Golden Boy	Golden	Mild, sweet	65â70	Salads, roasting
Chioggia Guardsmark	Red/White Striped	Earthy, mild	55	Fresh slicing
Boro	Red	Sweet, robust	50	Bunching, greens
Warrior	Deep red	Tender, sweet	~60	Root harvest
Zeppo	Red	Consistently flavorful	Early	Fresh eating

How to Choose the Best Beet Variety

Purpose: Decide if you want roots, greens, or both.
Harvest Time: Fast growers (e.g., Early Wonder) for quick crops.
Color Preference: Select golden varieties for non-staining salads; reds for classic beet flavor and color.
Climate: Most beets are frost-tolerant and suitable for spring to autumn planting.
Space: Some varieties (e.g., Cylindra) need more room for root development.

Tips for Growing Beets Successfully

Soil Preparation: Loose, well-draining soil; avoid compaction.
Direct Sowing: Beet seeds prefer to be sown outdoorsâavoid transplanting.
Spacing: Typically, one seed every 4 inches, rows 12 inches apart.
Watering: Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
Thinning: When seedlings reach 2â tall, thin to recommended spacing for best root size.
Sunlight: Full sun yields best growth and sweetest roots.
Fertilizing: Avoid excess nitrogen; focus on balanced nutrients.

Nutritional & Culinary Benefits

High in antioxidants (especially red varieties, thanks to betanin).
Rich in vitamins: Folate, Vitamin C, potassium.
Low calories, high fiber: Suitable for healthy diets.
Culinary versatility: Roasted, boiled, pickled, juiced, and raw (especially candy-striped and golden beets).

Common Questions About Beet Varieties

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What beet variety is best for early harvest and microgreens?

A: Early Wonder and Ruby Queen are both fast-growing, making them excellent for early root harvests and microgreens.

Q: Which beet wonât stain clothes or cutting boards?

A: Golden Boy, Touchstone Gold, and white varieties like Avalanche have minimal staining pigments, making them ideal for salads and dishes where color bleed is undesirable.

Q: Are beet greens edible?

A: Yes, almost all beet varieties have edible greensâespecially Ruby Queen, Lutz Green Leaf, and Boro. The flavor ranges from mild to sweet, akin to chard.

Q: Can I grow beets in containers?

A: Yes. Choose compact, round varieties such as Golden Boy or Red Ace. Ensure the container is at least 12 inches deep for proper root development.

Q: How do I avoid woody or tough beets?

A: Harvest your beets young and avoid letting them become overripe in the ground. Thin seedlings for ample root space, and keep plants consistently watered to prevent stress.

Q: Are specialty beet varieties harder to grow?

A: Not necessarily. Many specialty varieties, such as Chioggia Guardsmark or Zeppo, offer similar growing needs and are as reliable as classic types with proper soil and care.

Expert Beet Growing and Harvesting Tips

Seed Soaking: Soak beet seeds overnight before planting to improve germination.
Successive Planting: Sow new rows every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest.
Microgreens: Grow certain beet types (e.g., Ruby Queen) for microgreensâharvest 10â14 days after germination.
Harvest Timing: Typical harvest periods range from 35 days (for microgreens/greens) to 50â70 days for mature beets.

Join the Beet Revolution

With such a diverse array of beet typesâfrom classic Red Ace and Ruby Queen, through striking Chioggia Guardsmark and golden Golden Boyâgardeners can enjoy flavors, colors, and nutritional benefits tailored to every kitchen. Experiment with multiple varieties to discover new culinary favorites and add vibrant color to your vegetable beds.

Key Takeaways

Beets offer a wide selection of colors and flavors, from deep reds to golden yellows and whites.
Choose varieties based on your culinary use and growing conditions.
Greens are as valuable as rootsâdonât neglect edible foliage!
Direct sow seeds and thin early for the healthiest harvest.
Specialty and heirloom varieties are easy to grow and deliver exceptional results.

References

Author

Srija Burman

Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in writing and editing ranges across niches, including academics, sports, and human psychology.

Read full bio of Srija Burman