Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 1

Beetroot Trial Report

2016

Written by Eva Erhart Trials Office, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 2

RHS Trial of Beetroot Introduction: Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a herbaceous plant grown for its swollen root and leaves. The most common garden beetroot is red, but orange and white cultivars are available too. Beetroots can be eaten raw, cooked and pickled, and young leaves are increasingly used in salads.

Trial No. 2 – ‘Bettollo’

Trial Location The trial was held on the Trials Field at RHS Garden Wisley and a duplicate trial was hosted at RHS Garden Rosemoor. Objectives The objectives of the trial were to assess a range of cultivars and to recommend the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to outstanding cultivars for garden use.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 3

Judging The Beetroot Trial Assessment Forum viewed the trial on 25 July 2016 and assessed the plants using the following judging criteria:

Taste

Colour

Shape

Skin smoothness

Uniformity

Quality

Maturity date The members of the forum were: P Dawson, M Day, J England, I Gillott, A Hughes, S Mercer, B Newman, C Randel, S Wain, R White. Entries There were 44 entries in the trial, submitted by various seed companies in the UK and the USA. Cultivation: The bed was prepared early May and fertilised with sulphate of ammonia (100 g/m3) and sulphate of potash (40 g/m3) on 9 May. Following bed preparation the seeds of entries TN1 - TN21 were direct sown on 12 May and seeds of entries TN22 – TN44 on 13 May: three rows per cultivar, with 15 cm between rows. A weekly irrigation was carried out between May and June to aid germination and development of beetroots. Entries were thinned on 3 June to allow 10-15 cm spacing between developing roots. The crops which reached golf tennis ball size were harvested first on 21 July and continuously later on as they reached the mature size. *Yield and Number of harvested beetroots were recorded until 25 July 2016 at Wisley. All harvested when they reached tennis ball size.

RHS advice on growing your own beetroots can be found here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/beetroot Recommendation for the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) The following are the plants which fulfilled the Award of Garden Merit criteria during the trial and were considered to be worthy of receiving the award. The criteria which a plant needs to fulfil in order to receive the award are:

excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions

available

of good constitution

essentially stable in form and colour

reasonably resistant to pests and diseases

The plants which already had an AGM had to be re-confirmed to keep it; and if they didn’t fulfil the above mentioned criteria and are out-classed by newer varieties, their AGM was rescinded. Hardiness rating H3 Temperature range: -5 ºC to 1 ºC Category: Half-hardy – unheated glasshouse/ mild winter Definition: Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK except in severe winters and at risk from sudden (early) frosts. May be hardy elsewhere with wall shelter or good microclimate. Likely to be damaged or killed in cold winters, particularly with no snow cover or if pot grown. Can often survive with some artificial protection in winter.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 4

THE BEETROOT TRIAL ASSESSMENT FORUM RECOMMENDED THE SOCIETY’S AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT TO THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES:

‘Bettollo’ AGM (H3) 2016 (Trial Entry 2) Sent by D T Brown.

Number of harvested beetroots: 17*

Yield: 3360 g*

Average weight/crop: 198 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Late, but good size. Smooth skin. Little bit tapered.

Available from: D T Brown, Elsoms Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds.

‘Bona’ AGM (H3) 2016 (Trial Entry 5) Sent by Thompson & Morgan.

Number of harvested beetroots: 12*

Yield: 1850 g*

Average weight/crop: 154 g

Forum comments: Open pollinated. Round red type. Even size. Skin looks very smooth. Lovely and tender to cut.

Available from: Kings Seeds, Medwyn’s of Anglesey, Thompson & Morgan.

THE BEETROOTRIAL ASSESSMENT FORUM RE-CONFIRMED THE SOCIETY’S AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT TO:

‘Action’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 1)

Sent by Elsoms Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 15*

Yield: 6155 g*

Average weight/crop: 410 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Smooth skin.

Available from: Dobies of Devon, Elsoms Seeds, Suttons Seeds.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 5

‘Boltardy’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 4)

Sent in by Kings Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 15*

Yield: 3540 g*

Average weight/crop: 236 g

Forum comments: Open pollinated. Round red type. Been around for quite some time. Most popular beetroot in gardens. Good size. Good colour.

Available from: Chiltern Seeds, Dobies of Devon, D T Brown, Kings Seeds, Marshalls Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Sarah Raven, Select Seeds, Suttons Seeds, Thompson & Morgan, Unwins.

‘Rubidus’ AGM (H3) 2005 (Trial Entry 12)

Sent by Thompson & Morgan.

Number of harvested beetroots: 13*

Yield: 2440 g*

Average weight/crop: 188 g

Forum comments: Open pollinated. Round red type. Quite good looking. Smooth skin.

Available from: Thompson & Morgan.

‘Pablo’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 20)

Sent by Elsoms Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 13*

Yield: 2800 g*

Average weight/crop: 215 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Large. Still a good variety. Something was affecting this cultivar. It looks better usually. The forum agreed that this is a good variety and still AGM worthy, therefore it should keep its AGM.

Available from: D T Brown, Elsoms Seeds, Johnsons Seeds, Kings Seeds, Marshalls Seeds, Medwyn’s of Angelsey, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Robinson’s Seeds & Plants, Select Seeds, Suttons Seeds, Thompson & Morgan, Unwins.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 6

‘Red Ace’ AGM (H3) 2001 (Trial Entry 21)

Sent in by Kings Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 12*

Yield: 2440 g*

Average weight/crop: 203 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Good colour. Fairly uniform.

Available from: D T Brown, Kings Seeds, Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Robinson’s Seeds & Plants, Sakata, Select Seeds, Thompson & Morgan.

‘Solo’ AGM (H3) 2005 (Trial Entry 23)

Sent by Thompson & Morgan.

Number of harvested beetroots: 17*

Yield: 2570 g*

Average weight/crop: 151 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Monogerm. Good variety. Good colour. Nice round beet.

Available from: Dobies of Devon, Marshalls Seeds, Suttons Seeds, Thompson & Morgan, Unwins.

‘Wodan’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 25)

Sent by Thompson & Morgan.

Number of harvested beetroots: 14*

Yield: 2230 g*

Average weight/crop: 159 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Round red type. Few elongated ones. Smooth skin. Quite even.

Available from: D T Brown, Kings Seeds, Thompson & Morgan.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 7

‘Alto’ AGM (H3) 2005 (Trial Entry 39)

Sent in by Kings Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 12*

Yield: 1730 g*

Average weight/crop: 144 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Red cylindrical type. Good long shape.

Available from: Dobies of Devon, Kings Seeds, Suttons Seeds, Thompson & Morgan.

‘Cheltenham Green Top’

AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 44)

Sent in by Kings Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 15*

Yield: 970 g*

Average weight/crop: 65 g (This is a late variety and it was harvested quite early, therefore the crop can weigh more if harvested later.)

Forum comments: Late variety. Traditional long beet. A unique type. Vigorous variety. Traditional long beet. For its type there is nothing to match it in flavour.

Available from: D T Brown, Kings Seeds, Select Seeds, Simpsons Seeds.

THE BEETROOT TRIAL ASSESSMENT FORUM RECOMMENDED THE SOCIETY’S AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY, TO THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES:

It is the sender’s responsibility to notify the Trials Office that the cultivar has become available for home gardeners to buy.

‘Monodet’ AGM (H3) 2001 (Trial Entry 18)

Sent in by A L Tozer.

Number of harvested beetroots: 15*

Yield: 2650 g*

Average weight/crop: 177 g

Forum comments: Open pollinated. Round red type. Older monogerm variety but still looks good. Damaged a bit (probably with hoe).

Available only wholesale from A L Tozer.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 8

‘Subeto’ AGM (H3) 2016 (Trial Entry 24)

Sent by Elsoms Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 15*

Yield: 2920 g*

Average weight/crop: 195 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. New hybrid. Round red type. Good foliage. Exceptionally smooth skin.

Available from: Elsoms (only wholesale), Thompson & Morgan (only in a mix).

‘Taunus’ AGM (H3) 2016 (Trial Entry 43)

Sent by Elsoms Seeds.

Number of harvested beetroots: 10*

Yield: 1710 g*

Average weight/crop: 171 g

Forum comments: Hybrid. Cylindrical type. Smooth skin. Good, even size. Uniform long shape.

Available only wholesale from Elsoms.

THE BEETROOT TRIALS ASSESSMENT FORUM RECOMMENDED TO RESCIND THE SOCIETY’S AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT FROM: ‘Bonel’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 6) Sent in by Kings Seeds. Forum comments: Open pollinated variety. Round red type. Doesn’t look good. Superseded. ‘Monogram’ AGM (H3) 1993 (Trial Entry 19) Sent in by A L Tozer Ltd. Forum comments: Monogerm. Round red type. Gardeners don’t mind if it is monogerm or not. Smooth skin. Whitish rings, not nice. Variation in size. Superseded.

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 9

Index of Plants in the Trial

TN Name Sender

Round Red Types

1 ‘Action’ AGM (H3) 1993 Elsoms Seeds

2 ‘Bettollo’ D T Brown

3 ‘Bolivar’ Thompson & Morgan

4 ‘Boltardy’ AGM (H3) 1993 Kings Seeds

5 ‘Bona’ Thompson & Morgan

6 ‘Bonel’ AGM (H3) 1993 Kings Seeds

7 ‘Boston’ A L Tozer

8 ‘Cardeal’ Sakata UK

9 ‘Crimson King’ Kings Seeds

10 ‘Detroit 2 – Darko’ Hazera Seeds

11 ‘Detroit 2 – Crimson Globe’ Thompson & Morgan

12 ‘Rubidus’ AGM (H3) 2005 Thompson & Morgan

13 ‘Detroit Dark Red 2’ Pro-Veg Seeds

14 ‘Kahira’ Thompson & Morgan

15 ‘Grenade’ Hazera Seeds

16 ‘Manzu’ Elsoms Seeds

17 ‘Moneta’ Thompson & Morgan

18 ‘Monodet’ AGM (H3) 2001 A L Tozer

19 ‘Monogram’ AGM (H3) 1993 A L Tozer

20 ‘Pablo’ AGM (H3) 1993 Elsoms Seeds

21 ‘Red Ace’ AGM (H3) 2001 Kings Seeds

22 ‘Red Titan’ Johnsons Seeds

23 ‘Solo’ AGM (H3) 2005 Thompson & Morgan

24 ‘Subeto’ Elsoms Seeds

25 ‘Wodan’ AGM (H3) 1993 Thompson & Morgan

26 ‘Bull’s Blood’ Pro-Veg Seeds

Round Red and White Stripy Types

27 ‘Chioggia’ Pro-Veg Seeds

Round Orange Types

28 ‘Boldor’ Thompson & Morgan

29 ‘Burpee’s Golden’ Suttons Seeds

30 ‘Golden Boy’ Pro-Veg Seeds

31 ‘Golden Detroit’ Western Hybrid Seeds, Inc

32 ‘Golden Detroit’ Pro-Veg Seeds

33 ‘Golden Globe’ Pro-Veg Seeds

Round White Types

34 ‘Albino’ Pro-Veg Seeds

35 ‘Albina White’ Pro-Veg Seeds

36 ‘Avalanche’ Elsoms Seeds

37 ‘White Detroit’ Western Hybrid Seeds, Inc

38 ‘White Ghost’ Pro-Veg Seeds

Cylindrical Types

39 ‘Alto’ AGM (H3) 2005 Kings Seeds

40 ‘Cylindra’ Pro-Veg Seeds

41 ‘Forono’ AGM (H3) 1993 Kings Seeds

42 ‘Monorubra’ Mr Fothergill’s Seeds

43 ‘Taunus’ Elsoms Seeds

Vigorous Types

44 ‘Cheltenham Green Top’ AGM (H3) 1993 Kings Seeds

Final Report for Trial No. 2022 – Beetroot 2016 10

Sender details:

A L Tozer, Pyports, Downside Bridge Rd, Cobham KT11 3EH, Tel. 01932 862059, www.tozerseeds.com

D T Brown, Bury Road, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7PQ, Tel. 0333 003 0869, www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

Elsoms Seeds, Pinchbeck Rd, Spalding PE11 1QG,

Tel. 01775 715000, www.elsoms.com

Kings Seeds (EW King), Monks Farm, Colchester CO5 9PG,

Tel. 01376 570000, www.kingsseeds.com

Hazera Seeds, J.N.R.C., Rothwell, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN7 6DT,

Tel. 01472 371531, www.hazera.uk.com

Johnsons Seeds, Gazeley Rd, Newmarket CB8 7QA,

Tel. 0333 321 3103, www.johnsons-seeds.com

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds, Gazeley Rd, Kentford, Suffolk CB8 7QB,

Tel. 0333 777 3936, www.mr-fothergills.co.uk

Pro-Veg Seeds, 6 Shingay Ln, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3SS,

Tel. 01223 499131, www.provegseeds.com/

Sakata UK, Spalding Rd, Boston PE20 2EW,

Tel. 01205 462810, www.sakata-vegetables.eu/vegetables/en

Suttons Seeds, Woodview Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7NG,

Tel. 0844 326 2200, www.suttons.co.uk

Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU,

Tel. 0844 248 5383, www.thompson-morgan.com

Western Hybrid Seeds, Inc, PO Box 1169. Hamilton City CA 95951. United

States, Tel. +1 (530) 342 3410

Please note: Sources of seed for these cultivars may vary from year to year.

Acknowledgements All photographs were taken by Liz Cowan. Cover photographs: Top left: TN 10 - ‘Detroit 2 – Darko’; top right: TN 36 - ‘Avalanche’; bottom left: TN 30 - ‘Golden Boy’; bottom right: TN 27 - ‘Chioggia’.

Source: Horticultural Trials and Relations, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 224234 & Email: trials@rhs.org.uk

More information about RHS Trials and other Trials reports can be found on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/trials