Beetroot: selected cultivars: Detroit

Beetroot: Detroit Globe

Grown on my allotment in 2004

Medium-sized dark-red globe roots.

In taste tests, Detroit was said to be less sweet than other cultivars with a tasty and sometimes earthy flavour.

Detroit or Detroit Globe is a flattish globe-rooted beetroot with dark red roots. It has been popular since its first introduction in the 1890s. Modern lines of Detroit include Detroit Dark Red, Detroit Short Top, Detroit Globe, Crimson Globe, Crimson Ball, Crimson King and Ruby Ball. The D.M. Ferry Seed Company first introduced Detroit in 1892, in the state of Michigan, USA. It was bred from a variety described as an early maturing European Blood Turnip (Long Red).

Today, Detroit is one of the most popular varieties grown commercially and in gardens in the USA. It is a good main crop beetroot for late season, with mature roots that store well, while also being good as a summer crop with its roots harvested young. It may go under different names as a winter and summer crop. The tops are short and grow thickly. The leaves have red veins and are good to eat when young. The roots are smooth-skinned and bright purple-red when cooked, with a sweet flavour. Its large symmetrical roots are popular with exhibitors. In addition to being a popular fresh market variety in the USA, it is one of the beetroot most commonly used for processing, especially canning. Modern lines are moderately tolerant of Cercospora leaf spot and downy mildew. A number of distinct cultivars and hybrids have been bred from the original Detroit stock, some of which are listed below.