Beta vulgaris (Fodder Beet Group)
L.
Amaranthaceae
Common Name: Swiss Chard
Growing plant
Photograph by: Zyance
Growing plant
Photograph by: Zyance
Roots dug up, ready for harvest
Photograph by: Alupus
General Information
Beta vulgaris (Fodder Beet Group) is an erect, biennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from a large, swollen rootstock. It grows around 60cm tall, with a flowering stem that can be 150cm or more tall.
Fodder beet is often cultivated as a food for livestock. Although less tender than the cultivated beetroot, both the leaves and the roots can be eaten.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
A cultivated form of Beta vulgaris, it is not known in the wild
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation.
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Biennial |
Height | 0.90 m |
Pollinators | Wind |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated |
Cultivation Details
Beta vulgaris is originally a native of the warm temperate zone, though it has spread further north to the cold temperate zone. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 25°c, but can tolerate 4 - 35°c[
]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -6°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,500mm[
].
A very easily grown plant, it succeeds in sun or light shade in moist soils but prefers a rich well-drained light neutral to alkaline soil[
33- Title
- Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Organ. J.
- Publisher
- Faber
- Year
- 1960
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.
,
37- Title
- The Gardener's Assistant.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thompson. B.
- Publisher
- Blackie and Son.
- Year
- 1878
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
]. Beets grow well in a variety of soils, growing best in a deep, friable well-drained soil abundant with organic matter, but doing poorly on clay. They prefer an open position and a light well-drained soil[
52- Title
- Salads all the Year Round.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Larkcom. J.
- Publisher
- Hamlyn
- Year
- 1980
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.
]. The optimum pH is 6.0 - 6.8, but the plant can tolerate 5 - 8.3[
]. Some salinity may be tolerated after the seedling stage. Beets are notable for their tolerance to manganese toxicity[
]. Plants are tolerant of saline soils and respond positively if salt is added to non-saline soils at a rate of about 30g per square metre[
264- Title
- Vegetables
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Macmillan Reference Books, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0 333 62640 0
- Description
- Excellent and easily read book with good information and an excellent collection of photos of vegetables from around the world, including many unusual species.
].
Edible Uses
Root - cooked[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Whilst not as flavourful and certainly not as tender, as the cultivated beetroots, the root can be eaten when well cooked and makes an acceptable addition to stews etc[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Leaves - raw or cooked like spinach[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Somewhat tougher than the cultivated leaf beets, though young leaves make a tasty spinach substitute[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Flowering stem - cooked. A broccoli substitute[
16- Title
- New Vegetable Growers Handbook.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Simons.
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-14-046-050-0
- Description
- A good guide to growing vegetables in temperate areas, not entirely organic.
].
Medicinal
Although little used in modern herbalism, the plant has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours[
]. Beet juice was formerly recommended as a remedy for anaemia and yellow jaundice, and was put into the nostrils to purge the head, used as ear drops to clear ringing ears, and as a mouthwash to alleviate toothache[
].
The root is carminative, emmenagogue, haemostatic, stomachic and is used as a tonic for women[
218- Title
- Medicinal Plants of China
- Publication
-
- Author
- Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
- Publisher
- Reference Publications, Inc.
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-917256-20-4
- Description
- Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
]. The root can be used as part of the diet, or the juice can be extracted and used as a health-promoting drink[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. At least one litre of the juice from red-rooted forms must be taken each day in order to stimulate the immune system[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
]. The juice is prescribed by herbalists as part of a cancer-treatment regime[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
].
A decoction prepared from the seed has been used as a remedy for tumours of the intestines. The seed, boiled in water, is said to cure genital tumours[
].
The juice or other parts of the plant is said to help in the treatment of tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast, oesophagus, glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum, spleen, stomach, and uterus[
].
The juice has been applied topically to treat ulcers[
].
Beet juice in vinegar is said to rid the scalp of dandruff, and has been recommended to prevent falling hair[
].
A decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids in South Africa[
].
Agroforestry Uses:
A good companion for dwarf beans, onions and kohl rabi[
18- Title
- Companion Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B.
- Publisher
- Watkins
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.
]. Its growth is inhibited by runner beans, charlock and field mustard[
18- Title
- Companion Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B.
- Publisher
- Watkins
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow in situ in early to mid spring
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