Bull's Blood Beet Seeds

Beta vulgaris Bull's Blood Beet

Beta vulgaris Bull's Blood Beet is a stunning, dual-purpose heirloom variety, revered as much for its intense, deep burgundy foliage as for its sweet, earthy roots. Growing to about 12 to 16 inches tall, this variety is a standout in vegetable plots and ornamental borders alike, providing a splash of dramatic dark color. Unlike standard green-top beets, Bull's Blood is widely favored for its harvest of prized baby greens, though allowing the plant to mature yields delicious, dark red roots that store well into the winter.

Culinary and Practical Uses

• The striking deep purple leaves are harvested young as baby greens to add color and a mild, earthy flavor to mesclun salad mixes.
• The mature roots are sweet and tender, excellent when roasted, boiled, or pickled, and possess a classic beet flavor profile.
• Historically, the intense juice of this variety has been used as a natural red food dye

Characteristics

• Foliage: Deep maroon to purple, glossy leaves that retain their color even in high heat; highly ornamental and widely considered the standard for red salad leaves.
• Growth Habit: Forms a neat, upright rosette of leaves emerging from a swelling taproot; compact enough for containers and tight garden rows.
• Roots: Produces round to slightly flattened, dark red roots with distinct concentric zoning (rings) inside; best harvested when 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
• Seeds: The "seeds" are actually corky, multigerm fruit clusters containing multiple embryos; thinning seedlings is required to ensure proper root development.

Growing Requirements

• Sun: Thrives in full sun to partial shade; while roots develop best in full sun, the greens are often more tender when grown with some afternoon shade.
• Soil: Prefers loose, fertile, well-draining soil with a neutral pH (6.0–7.0) and no rocks to prevent root deformity.
• Water: Requires consistent moisture; irregular watering can lead to woody, fibrous roots or cracking.
• Spacing: Sow seeds 1 inch apart and thin seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart; thinnings can be eaten as baby greens.
• Maintenance: Keep the area weed-free to prevent competition; mulch to retain moisture and keep the soil cool during summer heat.

Shipping Info Bull's Blood Beet seeds ship as fresh, high-quality, viable seeds that are carefully packaged for stability and protection from damage during transit. Prompt shipping supports reliable germination and seasonally appropriate planting.