Beetroot

Where does Beetroot grow?

Found in: Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Central America, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Georgia, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Myanmar, Niger, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

Notes: Chemical composition: Fat = 5.75% (dry). Albumenoids = 13.92% (dry). Carbohydrates = 45.55% (dry). Fibre = 17.85% (dry). Ash = 16.93% (dry). Nitrogen - 2.23% (dry). Phosphoric acid = .50% (dry). Silicates = .86% (dry). Probably all Beta are one species and 2 main forms - Cicla - for leaves, and Contiva - for roots. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae. It has anticancer properties.

Status: It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.

Growing Beetroot

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Normally the plants are planted in the final site because transplanting is difficult. When the small clump of seeds or seed ball are planted more than one seedling will result. Plants get a soft heart due to boron deficiency. This is treated with borax.

Edible Uses: The red tubers are eaten after cooking. The root is also dried and powdered and the flour mixed with barley or wheat. They can be pickled or fermented as beetroot juice. They are often boiled, sliced and served with vinegar. Tops or leaves are edible. They are cooked in soups and stews. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat.

Nutrition Info

Beetroot Photos

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