Common Name: Sugar Beet

General Information

Beta vulgaris (Sugar Beet Group) is an erect, biennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from a swollen rootstock. It grows around 60cm tall, with a flowering stem that can be 150cm or more tall.
Sugar beet is the second most important sugar producing crop in the world and is grown on a very large scale in the temperate zone. Although not usually grown in gardens, the roots and leaves are edible.

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
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Biennial
Height	0.60 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[, ]. 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[]. 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[].
Sugar beet is widely cultivated as a commercial sugar crop in temperate climates. About one third of all sugar production in the world is derived from this plant[]. There are several named varieties[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked. The root contains 16 - 20% sugar and this is often extracted and used as a sweetener[]. This plant is a major source of sugar in many temperate areas. The root can also be used as a vegetable. When cooked it is quite tender, but with some fibrous strands. It has a very sweet flavour that some people find too sweet[]. The raw root is rather tough, but makes a pleasant addition to salads when grated finely[].

Leaves - raw or cooked. A very acceptable spinach substitute[]. Some people dislike the raw leaves since they can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth[].

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[]. The root can be used as part of the diet, or the juice can be extracted and used as a health-promoting drink[]. At least one litre of the juice from red-rooted forms must be taken each day in order to stimulate the immune system[]. The juice is prescribed by herbalists as part of a cancer-treatment regime[].

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[]. Its growth is inhibited by runner beans, charlock and field mustard[].

Other Uses

Sugar beet has excellent potential as a biomass crop, both as a source of sugar and also using the plant residue for fuel[]. The sugar can be fermented to produce ethanol, which can be used as a fuel.

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in situ.