Photo of Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva (beets vegetable - betterave)

Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva - beets vegetable - betterave - Commonly known as beet, is an herbaceous biennial which is typically grown today as an annual. Cultivation of beet roots as food first gained momentum in the 16th century. From the 16th century onward, Europeans began to consume the roots primarily as a vegetable. It is the red root vegetable sold in grocery stores around the world as garden beets. In general, genus plants typically grow to 2-3’ tall (to 4-6’ tall when in flower in the second year). Ovate to wedge-shaped, long-petioled, basal leaves (to 6” long) appear in rosettes with smaller, alternate, second-year stem leaves. Deep purple-red (but sometimes golden yellow or red/white striped) roots are usually swollen. Flowers (usually greenish and non-showy, but sometimes with red or purple tinges) bloom in dense spikes only in the second year, which means the flowers are typically not seen when plants are grown and harvested for their beets and/or leaves as one-year annuals. Family : Amaranthaceae

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Author : Millette Réjean D.
Photo # : 34482
Online since: January 24th 2020