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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Beta vulgaris maritima is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
B. maritima.
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:
Young leaves - raw or cooked[5, 12, 16, 21]. A delicious spinach substitute in the spring, the leaves become less pleasant as the season progresses, developing a distinct bitterness in hot weather[K]. Some people dislike the raw leaves since they can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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Antitumor Emmenagogue
Although little used in modern herbalism, beet has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours[269]. 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[269]. 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[269]. Some figure that betacyanin and anthocyanin are important in the exchange of substances of cancer cells; others note two main components of the amines, choline and its oxidation product betaine, whose absence produces tumours in mice[269]. The juice has been applied to ulcers[269]. A decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids in South Africa[269]. Leaves and roots used as an emmenagogue[269]. Plant effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis[269]. In the old days, beet juice was recommended as a remedy for anaemia and yellow jaundice, and, put into the nostrils to purge the head, clear ringing ears, and alleviate toothache[269]. Beet juice in vinegar was said to rid the scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was recommended to prevent falling hair[269]. Juice of the white beet was said to clear obstructions of the liver and spleen[269]. Culpepper (1653) recommended it for treating headache and vertigo as well as all affections of the brain[269].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
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[52]. The optimum pH is 6.0 - 6.8, but neutral and alkaline soils are tolerated in some areas. Some salinity may be tolerated after the seedling stage. Beets are notable for their tolerance to manganese toxicity. Beet is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 23 to 315cm, an average annual temperature range of 5.0 to 26.6°C and a pH of 4.2 to 8.2[269]. This is the wild beetroot of coastal areas. The cultivated beetroot, sugar beet, seakale beet and Swiss chard have all been developed from this species by means of selective breeding[1, 5]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is a tap root similar to a carrot going directly down [1-2].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow March to May in situ.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: a region in Ukraine), and Georgia), Azerbaijan, Gulf States (Bahrain, India, Iran, Iraq, Krym (Crimea, Kuwait, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Oman, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Sinai (part of Egypt), the European part of Turkey), Transcaucasus (region spanning Armenia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe (Thrace, United Arab Emirates), Yemen,Cyprus. EUROPE: Albania, Azores (an autonomous region of Portugal), Balearic Islands (Spain), Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse (Corsica, an island in France), France, Germany, Great Britain (United Kingdom (U.K.)), Greece, Italy, Kriti (Crete, an island in Greece), Netherlands, North Caucasus (region spanning parts of Russia), Portugal, Sardegna (Sardinia, an island in Italy), Sicilia (Sicily, an island in Italy), Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, AFRICA: Algeria, Canary Islands, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)Arcangeli.
Botanical References
17200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
Readers comment
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