Bull's Blood Beet
Beta vulgaris 'Bull's Blood'
vegetableBulls Blood is a dual-purpose heirloom beet beloved for its dramatic deep merlot-red leaves and sweet tender dark roots. The greens are exceptional in salads and saute (often winning taste tests against chard and spinach), and the burgundy roots are sweet and nutty without bitterness. A garden showstopper that earns its place for both kitchen and ornamental value.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 2 days
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Harvest
~60 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
biennial
Leaves year 1, flowers year 2
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Spacing
4 in in row, 12-18 in between rows
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Planting Depth
1/2 in
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loose, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Light pre-plant; side-dress at 4 weeks
Fertilizer
Balanced 5-10-10; supplement with boron-rich compost in deficient soils
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct-sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, and again in late summer for a fall crop. Sow 1/2 in deep, thin to 4 in apart. Beets like consistent moisture and cool weather. Greens are ready at 35 days; roots in 55 to 60 days. For continuous baby leaves, take up to one third of the outer leaves while the root continues to grow.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →spring planting
🌿
Direct sow
Mar 25
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Projected first harvest
May 24
fall planting
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Direct sow
Aug 4
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Projected first harvest
Oct 3
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Onions — Repel beet pests with sulfur volatiles
- Cabbage — Different nutrient needs and shared bed amendments
- Lettuce — Quick cool-season companion before beets size up
- Bush Beans — Fix nitrogen and grow at a different height
❌ Keep away from
Pole Bean
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover with floating row cover from sowing; pinch infested leaves off and destroy
Row cover seedlings; trap with yellow sticky cards
Space for airflow, water at the base, and rotate beets for 2 to 3 years
Side-dress with borax-amended compost in deficient soils to prevent corky black spots inside roots
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cut baby greens at 2 to 6 in tall for tender salad use; leaves over 6 in get tough. Harvest the roots at 2 to 3 in across; pull or dig and cut tops to 1 in to prevent moisture loss. The merlot pigment carries through cooking and stains hands, cutting boards, and clothing (this is the same betalain dye used in commercial food coloring).
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 43 calories per 100 g raw root with 2.8 g fiber, 4.9 mg vitamin C, 325 mg potassium, and high folate. The greens are even more nutrient-dense: 22 calories per 100 g, 3.7 g fiber, 30 mg vitamin C, and exceptional vitamin K. The deep red pigments are betalains, studied for anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular effects.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.