- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 60 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Type: Beet (Learn more)
Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: Leaf tops to 12"–18" tall
Variety Info: 2 ½"–3" blood red, globe shaped. Leaf tops are dark green on red stems. Introduced in 1892, 'Detroit Dark Red' is the standard for beets. It has particularly good tasting greens, and withstands fluctuations in temperature quite well.
Attributes: Frost Tolerant
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°–85°F, for early summer crop. 6 to 8 weeks before your average first fall frost date for late summer/fall crop. Mild Climates: Sow fall through winter.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended. Root disturbance delays maturity.
Days to Emerge: 5 – 21 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: 1 seed every 4"
Row Spacing: 12"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 4"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: For early spring sowings, harvest beets before summer heat. For late summer sowings, harvest before first heavy freeze. For winter sowings in mild climates, harvest in early spring. Harvest when roots are anywhere from 1"-3" in diameter. The smaller they are, the more tender. Greens are most tender when small, so start harvesting when they are 2" tall. You can take as much as one third of a beet plant's outer leaves without harming the root crop.
- RO B.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars2/27/255 Stars
Your seeds are the best. I hope someday you will again offer Purslane that grows upward on a bush, not the creeping on the ground type of plant. Every seed planted has given us beautiful and delicious food on our table. I love sharing our bounty with our neighbors. I bought three of your garden bags and I can't wait to fill a couple bags with produce this summer to share with friends.
- Ray W.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/13/245 Stars
Detroit Dark Red Beets are the easiest to grow, most flavorful and productive beets I grow. If you like beets get some.
- JudithVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars11/11/245 Stars
Everything was well packaged and arrived on time.
- JudithRated 5 out of 5 stars11/11/245 Stars
Everything was well packaged and arrived on time.
- Rachel M.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars8/5/245 Stars
I have purchased many seeds from Botanical Interests, but wanted to review my stand out this past fall. Detroit red beets. They were gorgeous and I love that they can double as a multi-purpose vegetable. I would cut the greens throughout the growth and then harvest the beets when needed. And when I say as needed, I am in Middle East Georgia and let them over winter in my raised beds and would just pluck them out of the bed and have them throughout our winter. It was like my own little root cellar :) Great for fresh eating and I made many ferments and Kvass with them. Highly recommend!
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerBIBotanical Interests8/5/24Hey Rachel, We're so glad to hear your Detroit Dark Red Beets have done so well.
Keep on growing 🌻️