The best varieties of beets

Beets are one of the most popular vegetables in our gardens. And all because it is used in our main dishes – in borscht and herring under a fur coat. But so that she does not disappoint on the table, it is important to choose the best varieties.

Top 25 rating according to KP

Beets practically do not get sick and do not suffer from pests, therefore, when choosing varieties, only 3 criteria are usually evaluated: excellent taste, high yield and long shelf life. It is on these grounds that we selected the top 10 varieties.

1. Bordeaux 237

This variety was bred back in 1943 and has long become a classic of the genre. Many summer residents from year to year prefer this particular beet and for good reason. Firstly, it is very productive – an average of 360 – 450 kg can be harvested from a hundred square meters, but in some years, with proper care, it can produce almost 800 kg! Her root crops are large, weighing 230 – 510 g. Tasters evaluate the taste as good and excellent. Sugar in root crops – up to 14%. They are round in shape, and their color is a classic burgundy. And they keep well. Medium early variety.

Universal – it is recommended for cultivation in all regions of Our Country (1).

2. Cylinder

This elongated beetroot is the oldest of this group and has been known since 1998. And the most popular among this type of root crops. And all because in all respects she is super! The roots of the Cylinder are large, weighing 250 – 600 g. Their flesh is burgundy, sweet. And the yield is simply stunning – 700 – 1000 kg per hundred square meters. A ton from a hundred! And it keeps well – up to 7 months. Medium maturity variety.

Universal – it can be grown in all regions of Our Country (1).

3. Mulatto

A relatively new beet variety – it has been in the State Register since 2003. Root crops are rounded, weighing 160 – 360 g. The pulp is red, very tasty. Productivity is good – up to 470 kg per hundred square meters. And most importantly, this beet is perfectly stored. The variety is considered mid-season.

Recommended for growing in the Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Central and Far Eastern regions (1).

4. Kestrel

A rather young hybrid – it has been in the State Register since 2007. Root crops have a classic rounded shape, weighing 200 – 375 g. The flesh is red, the taste is good and excellent. Productivity – 250 – 300 kg per hundred, and in the southern regions it can reach 335 kg. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for the North Caucasus, Northwest, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Lower Volga and Ural regions (1).

5. Egyptian flat

Another rarity of selection – it is included in the State Register in the same 1943. And still remains popular. Which is no coincidence. The yield of the Egyptian flat is amazing – 500 – 830 kg per hundred square meters. The average weight of root crops is 200 – 300 g, but some specimens are even half a kilo. The taste is very good. The color of the roots is burgundy, and they are slightly flattened in shape. It is stored a little worse than Bordeaux 237, but it is quite capable of lying until spring. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for growing in the Central, Central Black Earth, Ural, East Siberian and Far East regions (1).

6. Lady

This variety appeared in the State Register in 2013. And he is also among the favorites of our summer residents. Root crops are small, on average 170 – 250 g. But quite tasty and with a high sugar content – 12,8%. They are a classic round shape, red. What is nice – the variety is very productive, on average it gives 290 – 590 kg per hundred square meters, and the maximum yield reaches 760 kg (Rostov region). And one more bonus – root crops are perfectly stored. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for the Central region (1).

7. Single stem

This variety has been in the registry since 1976 and its main charm is that the seedlings do not need to be pulled. The fact is that beets are not sown with seeds, as many people think – these are seedlings. And in each there are several seeds that cannot be separated. Consequently, there are several shoots from one “glomerulus”. And in Odnorostkova, one seed gives only one sprout.

In terms of other qualities, the variety also did not let us down. Root crops are quite solid, weighing 300 g. Classical round shape. The flesh is dark burgundy, tender, tasty. Productivity – 515 – 780 kg per hundred square meters (2). Root crops keep well. Late variety.

Recommended for the Northern, Northwestern, Volga-Vyatka, Central, Central Black Earth and Middle Volga regions (1).

8. Improved cylinder

The good old Cylinder was all good, but, as they say, there is no limit to perfection. And now her “daughter” has appeared on the market. Its roots are also cylindrical in shape, aligned in size, with a small pointed tip, weighing 200 – 600 g. Their flesh is very dark, juicy, incredibly tasty. Very well kept in winter. The variety is considered mid-season.

9. Podzimnaya A 474

A very old variety, it was bred back in 1947. But this beet does not lose popularity, because, as the name implies, it can and should be sown before winter – this makes it possible to save time in the spring, when there is an emergency with sowing and planting. The roots of Podzimnaya are rounded, weighing 200 – 300 g. The flesh is maroon, without rings, very juicy and of excellent taste. And this variety is incredibly productive – up to 470 – 790 kg per hundred square meters! (3). Well kept. Refers to the middle.

Recommended for the North-Western, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth and Middle Volga regions (1).

10. Water

This is an F1 hybrid, it has been in the State Register since 2006. Its root crops have a classical shape – rounded, weighing 280 – 420 g. The flesh is red, of excellent taste. Productivity – 280 – 480 kg per hundred, but sometimes more – up to 780 kg (this was obtained in the Kemerovo region). Early ripe, not suitable for long-term storage (lies 4-5 months) – it is usually grown for beam products and for winter harvesting.

Recommended for the Northwestern, Central, North Caucasian, West Siberian, Far Eastern, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, Middle Volga and Lower Volga regions (1).

11. Boro

Pretty young F1 hybrid, in the State Register since 2004. Root crops have a classic rounded shape, small in size – weighing 110 – 210 g. But very tasty, bright red pulp. And the yield is excellent – an average of 310 – 640 kg per hundred square meters, but sometimes up to 760 kg (Volgograd region). The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for all regions except Northern (1).

12. Tenderness

A relatively young variety, in the State Register since 2005. Root crops are cylindrical, medium-sized – weighing 160 – 300 g. The flesh is purple, excellent taste. The yield is usually in the range of 200 – 420 kg per hundred square meters, and the maximum is 575 kg (this was obtained during the testing of the variety in the Perm region). Keeps well. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for the Volga-Vyatka, Northern, Ural, East Siberian and Far Eastern regions (1).

13. Mona

This variety was bred in 1998. Root crops are cylindrical, medium-sized – weighing 200 – 300 g. The flesh is dark red, with weak rings, very juicy, very tasty. Productivity – 550 – 580 kg per hundred square meters. The variety is good because the crops do not need to be pulled through – the seeds give 1 sprout. An early variety, but keeps well.

Recommended for all regions of Our Country (1).

14. Thekla

A completely new variety, it was included in the State Register in 2013. But he definitely deserves attention. Its root crops are round, medium-sized – weighing 185 – 260 g. The flesh is red, of excellent taste. Yields are very good! On average, 380 – 530 kg per hundred square meters, and in the Moscow region, the ability to collect 940 kg per hundred square meters is almost a ton. The variety is medium early, but keeps well.

Recommended for only one region – Central (1).

15. General’s

New! This variety was included in the State Register in 2022. Its root crops are cylindrical, long, weighing 250 – 340 g, red-purple in color. And their flesh is purple, excellent taste. Medium late variety. Well kept.

Recommended for the Ural region (1).

16. Bona

The variety was bred in 1998. Its root crops are classic, rounded, weighing 250 – 280 g. The flesh is dark red, without rings, juicy, good taste. Productivity is high – 550 – 680 kg per hundred square meters. The variety is mid-season, well stored.

Recommended for all regions of Our Country (1).

17. Incomparable A 463

A very old variety, it was bred already in 1938. The roots of this beet are flat, small in size – weighing 170 – 385 g. The flesh is dark red, excellent taste. Productivity – 300 – 700 kg per hundred square meters. This is an early variety, it is stored for a short time.

Recommended for the Central and Ural regions (1).

18. Monty

A hybrid of the Dutch selection, in the State Register since 2014. Root crops are oval, small in size – weighing 200 – 350 g. Their flesh is red, the rings are barely visible, the taste is good and excellent. And Monty’s yield is also decent – 290 – 470 kg per hundred, but sometimes up to 800 kg (Moscow region). Mid-season. It is not stored – it is recommended to use it in the summer, including for juice.

Recommended for the North-Western, Central, Volga-Vyatka, North Caucasus and Far East regions (1).

19. Ethiopia

This variety is relatively young, it has been in the State Register since 2016. But the housewives have already fallen in love, thanks to the small size of the root crops – they are on average about 170 g. And this is very convenient, because a half-kilogram giant cannot always be eaten right away. Productivity at the proper level – 220 – 540 kg per hundred square meters, and the maximum reaches 620 kg. Root crops are round, red. The taste is good. Sugar, however, is not enough, only 6,4%, but too sweet beets are also not always needed. But it is well kept.

Medium late variety. Recommended for cultivation in the Central region (1).

20. Refined

Hybrid F1. Its root crops are rounded, weighing up to 200-230 g. The flesh is dark red, without rings, dense, juicy and very tasty – it is called one of the best hybrids in terms of taste and the sweetest. What else is nice – the seeds give 1 sprout, then the crops do not need to be thinned out. And this beet is perfectly stored in the winter.

21. Siberian borscht

This variety has very large root crops, weighing up to 500 g. The flesh is dark red, without rings, excellent taste and very sweet – this is an ideal option for borscht, which is reflected in its name. Her yield is excellent – about 600 kg per hundred square meters. The variety is medium early, but the root crops are perfectly stored right up to the new harvest.

22. Negress

This variety has been known since 2011 and has also become a classic. Root crops of excellent taste, sugar in them is 9,7%. Average weight – 170 – 320 g. Red color. And the yield can be up to 730 kg per hundred square meters, although usually it is in the range of 310 – 480 kg. Unusual in this beet is the shape of the root crop. She is cylindrical. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for cultivation in the Volga-Vyatka region and the Far East (1).

23. Red hero

Variety in the State Register since 2011. This is another cylindrical beet. The pulp is dark red, excellent taste. Sugar in root crops – 6,5 – 10,5%. They themselves are quite massive, about 300 g. And the yield is decent – 300 – 450 kg per hundred, and sometimes up to 570 kg. Keeps well all winter. The variety is mid-season.

Recommended for the Krasnodar Territory, the Rostov Region, the Crimea and the Caucasian Republics (1).

24. First Harvest

Another variety from 2011. Its root crops are of a classic round shape, red in color, rather large – weighing 200 – 400 g. Very tasty and sweet – sugar in them is up to 11,3%. And the yield pleases – 365 – 450 kg per hundred square meters. The variety is early, so you can enjoy young beets already in the second half of summer.

And it is recommended to grow it in the Volga-Vyatka region and the Far East (1).

25. Kuban borsch 43

This is also a rather old variety – it has been in the registry since 1963. And from the name it is clear for what purposes it is intended, and yes – this beet is, indeed, ideal for borscht. Her fruits are portioned, on average 230 g each. Very tasty, with classic burgundy pulp. Sugar in them in moderation – 8,4%. The shape is round. The average yield is 320 kg per hundred square meters. Well kept in winter.

The variety is early ripe – so you can try borscht with fresh beetroot much faster.

Recommended for the southern regions – the Rostov region, the Krasnodar Territory, the Crimea and the Caucasian republics (1).

How to choose a beet variety

For our small suburban areas, and for many it is only 6 – 10 acres, of course, an important criterion is productivity – I want smaller beds, and collect more from them.

The second is taste. Of course, everyone wants a tastier variety. Therefore, choose those that taste good and excellent (this is indicated in the description of the variety in the Register of Breeding Achievements). But the amount of sugar in root crops is not for everybody. If you eat it boiled, as a side dish, then, probably, sweeter root crops will be preferable. And in herring under a fur coat, vinaigrette or borscht, varieties with a low amount of sugar will be more appropriate.

And, of course, you should pay attention to the regions in which it is recommended to grow this or that variety – it is there that it will show its maximum taste and give the greatest harvest.