Beta vulgaris

Beta vulgaris — one versatile species giving beetroot, chard, leaf beet and sugar beet, all descended from the wild Mediterranean sea beet. The botanical home of our beetroot and chard.

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  • Swiss Chard White Silver 2 seeds (Beta vulgaris) – organic annual vegetable Swiss Chard White Silver 2 (Beta vulgaris) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Organic Beta Vulgaris White Silver 2 Annual
    57,00 kr

    Organic Swiss Chard White Silver 2 Overview swiss chard seeds in the White Silver 2 type are a reliable choice for gardeners who want a productive leaf vegetable with a clean, classic look. This organic...
  • Beetroot Tape 7.5 M Ribbon seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual seed tape Beetroot Tape 7.5 M Ribbon (Beta vulgaris) – annual seed tape seeds from SeedsChoice
    Beetroot Seed Tape Beta Vulgaris Annual 7.5 M Ribbon
    57,00 kr

    Beetroot seed tape for neat garden rows beetroot seed tape is a convenient vegetable seed tape for garden use, designed to help create evenly spaced sowing lines with less measuring. This pre-sown beet seed strip...
  • Beetroot Detroit 2 seeds (Beta vulgaris) – organic annual vegetable Beetroot Detroit 2 (Beta vulgaris) – organic annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Beetroot Detroit 2 Seeds Organic Beta Vulgaris Annual
    57,00 kr

    Organic beetroot for classic Detroit 2 harvests beetroot detroit 2 seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a classic, round beetroot variety with deep red color and a uniform shape. This organic vegetable...
  • Fodder Beet Brigadier 250g seeds (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable Fodder Beet Brigadier 250g (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Fodder Beet Seeds Brigadier Beta Vulgaris 250g Vegetable
    181,00 kr

    Brigadier Barres type fodder beet for forage Fodder beet seeds Brigadier are a Barres type fodder beet selected for uniform, oval to cylindrical roots with a distinctive orange colour. This orange fodder beet variety is...
  • Beetroot Cylindra seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Beetroot Cylindra (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Beetroot Cylindra Seeds Beta Vulgaris Annual Variety
    51,00 kr

    Beetroot Cylindra seeds for tidy kitchen gardens beetroot cylindra seeds are an annual vegetable choice valued for their distinctive half-long, cylindrical roots and deep red colour. This half long beetroot variety is well suited to...
  • Swiss Chard Green Leaf seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Green Leaf (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Annual Green Leaf Variety
    57,00 kr

    Swiss chard for repeated leafy harvests swiss chard seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners who want abundant green leaves with slender stems from an annual leaf vegetable. This green-leaf variety of Beta vulgaris produces...
  • Swiss Chard Leafy Green 50g seeds (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable Swiss Chard Leafy Green 50g (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Leafy Vegetable Green Variety 50g
    79,00 kr

    Swiss chard for green, productive leaf harvests swiss chard seeds are a reliable choice for a leafy vegetable garden, producing abundant green leaves with slender stems. This green variety is valued for its fresh, mild...
  • Rhubarb Chard Early Red Stems seeds (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable Rhubarb Chard Early Red Stems (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Rhubarb Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Early Variety Red Stems
    57,00 kr

    Early red-stem chard for leafy harvests rhubarb chard seeds are a classic choice for gardeners looking for an early chard variety with bold color and generous foliage. This vegetable leaf type forms a medium-sized, vigorous...
  • Swiss Chard Red Micro Leaf seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Red Micro Leaf (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Annual Red Chard Micro Leaf
    57,00 kr

    Red chard microleaf variety for garden beds swiss chard seeds are a versatile choice for gardeners who want vivid color and reliable leaf production from an annual leafy vegetable. This Red Chard Micro Leaf type...
  • Swiss Chard Yellow seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Yellow (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Yellow Annual Variety
    51,00 kr

    Yellow-stem Swiss chard for leafy harvests swiss chard seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners who want an annual leaf crop with bright yellow stems and generous foliage. This variety is valued for its attractive,...
  • Swiss Chard Common Green seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Common Green (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Common Green Annual Variety
    51,00 kr

    Common Green Swiss Chard for Leafy Harvests swiss chard seeds produce a reliable leafy green vegetable with abundant green foliage and slender stems. This Common Green annual variety is often known as perpetual spinach and...
  • Beetroot Egyptian Turnip Rooted seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Beetroot Egyptian Turnip Rooted (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Beetroot Seeds Egyptian Turnip Rooted Beta Vulgaris Annual
    51,00 kr

    Egyptian Turnip Rooted Beetroot Seeds Overview beetroot seeds Egyptian Turnip Rooted are a classic choice for gardeners who want an early summer beet variety with distinctive, flattened-round roots. This annual root vegetable is valued for...
  • Swiss Chard Blonde A Carde Blanche seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Blonde A Carde Blanche (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Annual Blonde A Carde Blanche
    51,00 kr

    Swiss chard variety for bright garden harvests swiss chard seeds ‘Blonde A Carde Blanche’ are a reliable choice for gardeners who want an annual leaf vegetable with abundant green foliage and pale yellow to white...
  • Beetroot Detroit 5 Loki seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Beetroot Detroit 5 Loki (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Beetroot Seeds Detroit 5 Loki Beta Vulgaris Annual Variety
    57,00 kr

    Detroit 5 variety for classic kitchen beets Beetroot seeds for the well-known Detroit 5 type are a reliable choice for gardeners who want a classic, round beet for the vegetable plot. This dark red beetroot...
  • Red Beet Detroit 2 Bolivar Roundrooted seeds (Beta vulgaris) – garden seeds Red Beet Detroit 2 Bolivar Roundrooted (Beta vulgaris) – garden seeds from SeedsChoice
    Red Beet Seeds Detroit 2 Bolivar Beta Vulgaris Roundrooted Variety
    91,00 kr

    Red beet variety for dependable garden harvests Red beet seeds ‘Detroit 2 Bolivar’ are a classic choice for anyone looking for a uniform, round beetroot variety for the vegetable patch. This selection is known for...
  • Swiss Chard Lucullus seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Lucullus (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Lucullus Beta Vulgaris Annual Variety
    51,00 kr

    Swiss chard variety for ribs and leaves Swiss chard seeds ‘Lucullus’ are a classic leaf vegetable choice for kitchen gardens, valued for their broad, pale ribs and generous green foliage. This annual vegetable is grown...
  • Chard Verde A Costa Bianca seeds (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable Chard Verde A Costa Bianca (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Verde A Costa Bianca Vegetable
    57,00 kr

    Chard with bold white ribs and flavor Chard seeds ‘Verde a Costa Bianca’ are a classic leafy vegetable choice for gardeners who want strong, upright plants with a generous tufted habit. This is a white...
  • Swiss Chard Common Green seeds (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable Swiss Chard Common Green (Beta vulgaris) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    Swiss Chard Seeds Beta Vulgaris Annual Common Green
    51,00 kr

    Common Green Swiss chard for leafy harvests swiss chard seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners who want a productive leaf vegetable with abundant green foliage and slender leaf stalks. This annual variety, often searched...
  • Fodder Beetroot Zentaur Poly 250g seeds (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable Fodder Beetroot Zentaur Poly 250g (Beta vulgaris) – vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    15%
    Fodder Beetroot Seeds Zentaur Poly Beta Vulgaris 250g
    154,00 kr181,00 kr

    Zentaur Poly fodder beetroot seeds for crops fodder beetroot seeds Zentaur Poly are a practical choice for growers looking for a reliable root vegetable seed for field production. This variety forms a distinctly conical root...

Beta vulgaris — beetroot, chard and leaf beet

Beta vulgaris is a single, remarkably versatile species that gives us beetroot, Swiss chard, leaf beet and even sugar beet. In the kitchen garden it covers our beetroot grown for roots and the colourful chard grown for our leafy greens, within the wider root vegetable range.

History & origin

All of these vegetables descend from the wild sea beet, a tough seaside plant of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe. The leafy forms came first: the ancient Greeks and Romans grew beet for its leaves, much as we grow chard today, while the swollen red root we call beetroot was developed later, becoming popular in Europe from around the 16th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries the same species gave rise to sugar beet, now a major source of the world's sugar.

Its name is simply the classical Latin beta for the plant, with vulgaris meaning “common.”

Botanical characteristics

A hardy biennial grown as an annual, the species is endlessly adaptable. Beetroot forms a sweet, earthy swollen root in red, golden, white or candy-striped; chard and leaf beet are grown for their glossy leaves and brightly coloured stems in pink, yellow, orange and white. Quick beetroot is forgiving enough to feature among our fast-growing vegetables, while chard is one of the most reliable cut-and-come-again leaves.

Growing Beta vulgaris from seed

Sow direct into well-prepared soil from spring, thinning the seedlings since each “seed” is actually a cluster. Keep plants evenly watered so the roots stay tender and the leaves keep coming, and sow successionally for a long season. Chard is especially hardy and crops on into autumn and winter. Our vegetable sowing calendar and soil guide cover the basics.

Ready to grow beetroot or chard? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Beetroot · Root Vegetables · Leafy Greens · Carrot · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beta vulgaris?
A single species that covers beetroot, Swiss chard, leaf beet and sugar beet.

Where does it originate?
From the wild sea beet of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of Europe.

Which came first, the root or the leaf?
The leaves — the Greeks and Romans grew beet much like chard; the swollen beetroot came later.

Do I need to thin the seedlings?
Usually yes — each beet “seed” is a cluster, so thin them for good roots.

How do I grow it?
Sow direct from spring, thin the seedlings and keep evenly watered.