Cardeal F1 Red Beetroot - Beta vulgaris

The 'Cardeal F1' red beetroot is a biennial vegetable plant that grows to a height of 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) and rapidly grows. It is cultivated for its round roots with a delightful taste, ideal for raw or cooked salads and juicing. The sowing period is from April to May for a harvest 3 to 4 months later.

Beetroots are biennial root vegetables. The first year is devoted to the accumulation of nutrients in the root. In the second year, the plant draws on these reserves to produce flowering and seed production. The edible root is harvested in the first year, but if you want to collect the seeds, you must wait until the following year by reserving some plants. Sometimes called red carrot or red root, beetroot varieties differ in their colour: there are red, white, yellow, orange, or pink varieties, as well as in their shapes, such as cylindrical, spherical, or ovate, and in their carbohydrate content.

They can be classified into three main categories:

• vegetable beetroots, usually planted in gardens,
• sugar beetroots, grown in open fields for sugar extraction,
• and finally, fodder beetroots, intended for livestock but very tasty in human diets.

Beetroot is not only a carbohydrate-rich food, but it is also known for its high content of vitamins and minerals, especially potassium.

Storage: Once the beetroots are harvested, they should dry on the ground for a full day. It is recommended to store them throughout the winter in a cool and dark place such as a cellar or pantry. You can bury them under a layer of dry sand to optimise storage and preserve their taste qualities.

Gardening tip: beetroots should be planted in full sun but remain in cool soil. To maintain these two conditions, consider mulching around the plants.