For a versatile, all-around superb beet for eating fresh or canning, it's hard to top Detroit Dark Red Short Top. Ever since its 1892 introduction, this versatile variety has been delighting gardeners and cooks!
Whether you like baby beets harvested at their most succulent or full-bodied mature globes, Detroit Dark Red satisfies. It sprouts reliably even in cold spring weather, yet also holds beautifully in the heat. From its lush above-ground greens to its oxblood-red roots, this is a nutritious and delicious vegetable.
These mid-sized (up to 3 inches in diameter) roots are tender and sweet, with a smooth, round shape and fine-grained texture. The tops reach about a foot high, and make excellent greens—cut them sparingly as they grow, and you will always have a handful ready for the evening meal.
Beets are a cool-weather crop, direct-sown in fall or as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Before planting, make sure that the soil is as loose, rich, and well drained as possible, so that the root can grow without stress.
