GARDEN BEET. 
(Beta vulgaris.) 
French, Betterave potagére. 
CULTURAL NOTES. 
There are many methods by which this vegetable may be served as an 
article of food, but it is especially esteemed for its flavour and appearance 
as a component of a salad. Beet is easily grown and will make a fair 
return on any soil that is properly prepared for it, but it succeeds best on a 
rich light loam, free from any trace of recent manuring. A rank soil, or 
one to which manure has been added shortly before sowing seed, will 
produce coarse or fanged roots, quite unfit for the table. It is of far 
greater importance to concentrate all available resources upon improving 
the texture of the soil by deep digging in autumn or early winter, rather 
than upon the provision of manure. Plots which were well manured in 
the previous year for Cauliflower, Celery; &c., are,generally in excellent 
condition for growing Beet. 
Early Crops. To precede the first of the outdoor crops, tender young 
roots may be grown in frames from seed of Sutton’s Globe sown in 
February and March. Sow in drills on a gentle hotbed and thin the 
plants from six to nine inches apart in the rows. Give air on every suitable 
occasion. Fresh young Beets raised in this way find far more favour at 
table than those which have been stored for several months. For the 
earliest supplies from the open ground sow the Globe variety from the end 
of March to mid-April, in a sheltered position. Of course, the earlier the 
sowing the greater the risk of destruction by frost, and birds may rob the 
seedlings. A double thickness of fish netting, however, stretched over 
stakes about one foot above the soil, will afford protection from the former 
and prevent the depredations of the latter. Set the drills about twelve 
inches apart and sow the seed one and a half to two inches deep. Thin the 
plants early and allow them to stand finally at nine inches in the rows. 
Keep the ground clean and well stirred. By the time these early roots are 
finished the maincrop supplies will be available. 
Maincrop. The principal sowing should never be made until quite 
the end of April or early in May. Allow from twelve to fifteen inches 
between the rows, and nine inches finally between the plants. Thinning 
should commence as early as possible, but it is waste of time to plant the 
thinnings. Ply the hoe regularly to keep down weeds and aerate the soil. 
Artificial watering in dry weather is not generally practised owing to its 
tendency to produce fanged roots. On extremely stony ground and on stiff 
clay, the long varieties can only be successfully grown by boring holes 
about two feet deep and three inches in diameter, firmly filled in with sifted 
fine soil. Sow a few seeds at each station and eventually thin out the 
plants, leaving the most promising. 
Late Crops. By sowing ‘the Globe or Turnip-rooted varieties in 
July, useful roots may be obtained during the autumn and winter. Seed 
may also with advantage be thinly sown broadcast; the young plants will 
thus protect one another, and the roots may be pulled as they mature. 
See also page 3. 
Lifting and Storing. Beet is much hardier than is generally 
supposed, and the crop may often be left in the ground during the winter 
if aided by a covering of litter in severe weather. But it is safer out of 
the ground, and the proper time to lift the roots is when a touch of autumn 
frost has been experienced. Lifting should be carefully performed with a 
fork, avoiding injury to the roots, and the foliage must not be cut off too 
close. A cool shed or cellar makes an admirable store, and the roots 
should be packed in dry earth or sand. Where shed room is scarce a clamp 
in a sheltered corner answers well. 
Sea Kale Beet. An extremely useful vegetable grown principally 
for the stalk and the midrib of the leaf. In well-manured soil the growth 
is quick and robust, and the plants should be allowed a space of fifteen 
inches each way. Sow in April and May. 
Full details on the culture of Vegetables are given in Sutton’s Book on Gardening, Fifteenth edition, price 10s. 6d. net. 
Sutton’s Blood Red maintains its pre-eminence as the finest strain of long Beet for general cultivation. Roots of medium size, 
symmetrical in form, and unrivalled for the exhibition stage. 
very dark crimson. 
1908. (Illustrated in colours, page 23) ++ nee wee 
‘Sutton’s Blood Red is undoubtedly the finest Beet in cultivation.’— 
Mr. J. A. HALL, Gardener to R. H.C.+ Harrison, Esq., J.P. 
‘Last season I sowed four beds of your Blood Red Beet with excellent 
results. The roots are of fine colour and splendid flavour.’—Mr. A. E. 
PORTER, Gardener to Miss SPENCER EDWARDS, 
‘ The magnificent quality of your Blood Red Beet has quite convinced 
me that for exhibition purposes a fair price must be paid for seeds. The 
seeds I had from you last year produced much finer specimens than any 
others I have grown.’—Mr. H. V. VokKEs, Horsell. 
Sutton’s Globe. For an early crop, especially on light soils, 
the value of this handsome Beet is generally recognised, and it 
deserves to be grown in every garden, both for its admirable 
shape and high quality as a vegetable. The form, which is as 
round as a Snowball Turnip, distinguishes this variety from the 
Egyptian Turnip-rooted Beet. On the exhibition stage Sutton’s 
Globe has been eminently successful, and our customers appear 
to be unanimous as to its very fine flavour. The roots should 
be pulled from the bed and used as soon as large enough for the 
table. From sowings made as late as the end of July nice 
roots may be obtained in autumn and winter. Awards of Merit, 
R.H.S., 1908 and 1917. (Jllustrated) 
per packet, ls. and 1s. 6d.; ounce, 1s. 9d. 
‘My employer is greatly pleased with the Globe Beet grown from 
your seed, which he considers the best he has ever had.’ —Mr. W. H. 
WOoOODSFORD, Gardener to H. RUNGE, Esq. 
‘ Besides being fit for use very early, and its other good qualities, I find 
Sutton’s Globe Beet to be a first-rate keeper.’.—Mr. D. CATCHPOLE, 
Gardener to F. TURNER, Esq. 
Flesh exceedingly rich in colour and of the choicest flavour. 
For ornamental gardening this variety is most conspicuous and attractive. 

Foliage 
Award of Merit, R.H.S., September 29, 
per packet, 1s. and 1s. 6d.; ounce, 1s. 9d, 
‘My employer considers Sutton’s Blood Red Beet to be the finest he 
has partaken of. It is of good colour and nice size, with no coarseness 
whatever.’—Mr. J. BLAKEY, Gardener to CHARLES CROYSDALE, Esq. 
‘Nothing approaches your Blood Red and Globe Beets for my soil ; 
the flavour and appearance are far superior to any we can buy.’— 
A. J. H. Brown, Esq., Ebor School. 
“The Blood Red Beet was quite a feature in the garden. I never saw 
Beet of a better colour. The crop was admired by everyone.’—Mr. F. W. 
CHILVERS, Gardener to J. B. CAMPION COLES, Esq. 
COPYRIGHT S, & S. 
SUTTON’S GLOBE. 
List of Garden Beet continued on page 26. 

SUTTON & SONS, READING, Seedsmen By Appointment to His Majesty King George V. 
25 
