Beet Bull's Blood Heirloom Seed

Beta vulgaris

Item #0222

60 days. Bull’s Blood is primarily grown for its tender, sweet, deep red-burgundy foliage. The 16" greens rival chard and spinach for delectability, and nutrition content; just 1 cup has more iron than a hamburger patty! The beets of this 1840s heirloom are also quite tasty when harvested small. Beets are excellent for mild climates where multiple crops are possible.

This packet plants three 9 foot rows

Days to Emerge:
5-10 days
warm soil,
15-25 cool soil

Seed Depth:
1/2"

Seed Spacing:
a group of 3 seeds every 4"

Row Spacing:
12"

Thinning:
When 2" tall,
thin to 1
every 4"

When to sow outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before average last frost, for early summer crop, and late summer for fall crop. Growing during hot temperature periods should be avoided. Zones 10 and 11 can sow fall through winter.

When to start inside: Not recommended.

Special germination instructions: To hasten germination, soak seeds for 8 to 24 hours before sowing.

Harvesting: To use the fresh greens, harvest when leaves are small, under 3" long, pinching off the leaf stem to the ground. You can take as much as one third of a beet plant’s leaves without harming the root crop. Always leave 2" of foliage above ground level, if you plant to harvest throughout the season. Do not let them get too big; the smaller they are, the more tender. When growing for beet roots, early spring sowings should be harvested before summer heat. Harvest late summer sowings before the first heavy frost. Winter sowings in mild (frost free) climates should be harvested in early spring.

Artist: Carolyn Crawford

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