Scientific Name: Beta vulgaris Conditiva Cultivar Group

Common Names: Beetroot, Table Beet, Red Beet, Garden Beet, names of this heirloom variety include 'Cylindra', 'Formanova' and 'Butter Slicer'

Family: Amaranthaceae

Culinary Uses

Cylindra beetroots have an elongated, cylindrical shape which grows straight downwards.  Because of this unique characteristic you can get lots of consistently uniform slices from each root making this an ideal variety for pickling and canning for future use on sandwiches and burgers.  The flavour of this heirloom beetroot variety is sweet and earthy with a rich red colour and tender texture.  Cylindra beetroots can also be roasted with other vegetables, boiled and diced for salads, or sliced thinly, seasoned and dehydrated to make a delicious raw snack.  Beet leaves are also edible and taste similar to silverbeet although a little stronger in flavour.

Growing Tips

Cylindra beetroot grow best when planted in a full-sun location, however gardeners in warmer climates may prefer to plant it in a lightly shaded location to prevent wilting during the hottest part of the day.  Cylindra is a bolt-resistant variety so it grows better in warmer climates than other heirloom beetroots that may go to seed in the heat before the roots have fully filled out.  Beetroot isn't particular fussy about soil conditions however it still grows best in free-draining, fertile soil that's rich in organic matter.  Having loose soil is especially important if you wish to grow long, uniformly-shaped cylindra beetroots as growing them in compact soils will result in oddly-shaped roots.  If your garden soil is sandy, heavy with clay, compacted or pale due to lack of organic matter placing down a layer of compost or well-rotted manure prior to planting is beneficial.  Worms and other microorganisms will incorporate the organic matter over time improving your soil structure and increasing its fertility.  Top dress around beetroot seedlings once they are established with a nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser such as blood and bone to help support early leaf growth.  Good leafy growth early on in the growing season will allow your beetroot plants to photosynthesise more sending any excess energy back into the expanding roots.  Beetroots that don't have enough nitrogen will grow slowly and have hard, stunted roots with a woody core and thick, pithy skin.  Beetroot plants require regular watering to produce tender, juicy roots.  Beetroots that are allowed to dry out between watering will split or crack and be hard in texture.  Mulch around beetroot plants to help retain soil moisture in dry conditions.

When to Sow

In cold and mountainous regions of Australia sow cylindra beetroot seeds from early Spring through to mid Autumn.  In temperate regions of Australia sow cylindra beetroot seeds from late Winter through to mid Autumn.  In subtropical areas of Australia you can sow cylindra beetroot seeds any time of year.  In tropical areas of Australia sow cylindra beetroot seeds during the dry season from early Autumn through to early Winter.

How to Sow

Sow cylindra beetroot seeds 2cm deep.  Because cylindra beetroots have a long taproot it's best to sow the seeds directly where they are to grow rather than start them in punnets.  Space planting holes for beetroot about 10cm apart.  Beetroot seeds are actually a knobbly dry fruit consisting of up to 6 individual seeds, although often not all of these are viable and sometimes none at all will germinate.  We recommend multi-sowing beetroot seeds by planting 3 or 4 seed clusters into the same planting hole.  As the multi-sown beetroot seedlings grow and their roots expand they'll push each other apart, providing the soil is not compacted.  The beetroots in each multi-sown cluster will mature at different rates, you can harvest the largest roots first by twisting them out without disturbing the rest of the clump allowing them to further fill out.  Multi-sowing beetroots will optimise space usage, increase the overall harvest and extend the cropping period.  Succession planting of beetroot seeds will also help to extend the harvest across the entire growing season.

Germination Time

Cylindra beetroot seeds germinate quickly with most seedlings taking between 8 and 10 days to emerge once sown.

Time to Harvest

Cylindra beetroot plants take 9 to 11 weeks for their roots to grow big enough to begin harvesting.