Bull's Blood

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Sweetly earthy and richly aromatic, Bull’s Blood beets deliver a deep, wine-red interior with a tender, fine-grained bite that stays impressively smooth.

The greens are lush and vigorous, with a crisp, beetlike flavor that sings alongside the roots. Grow for bold color in fresh salads, vibrant roasting, and striking pickled slices that keep their jewel-toned presence from jar to table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Rosette

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 14th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Bull’s Blood beets are all about that fine-grained, sweet-earth interior—less fibrous chew, more clean, velvety slice. Roast for maximum silk, or pickle for color that looks like it belongs in a stained-glass window, then finish with tang and fat to keep the sweetness from going one-note.

Best Uses

roasting or steam-roasting whole for silky slices
vacuum-seal or quick-pickle slices to keep jewel-toned color
grating raw into dressed salads for a sweet-earth crunch
sauteing the greens like silky, quick-cooking chard

Flavor Profile

sweetly earthy richness deep, winey aromatic beetiness tender fine-grained bite with minimal grittiness crisp, beetlike green flavor

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese horseradish balsamic vinegar walnuts orange black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Bull’s Blood beets developing dark, fuzzy spots or leaf blight, and what should I do?

This is commonly Cercospora leaf spot or other foliar blights, which spread fast in humid weather and on crowded plants. Remove the worst affected leaves, improve airflow by thinning to about 3–4 inches between plants, and water at the soil line (not overhead). If it’s actively spreading, spray with a labeled copper-based fungicide and repeat according to the label every 7–10 days until conditions cool.

How often should I water Bull’s Blood beets during the main growing phase to keep roots sweet and avoid problems?

During root bulking (roughly weeks 4–7), keep the soil evenly moist so it doesn’t dry out between waterings—aim for about 1 inch per week total, adjusted for rainfall. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry to the touch, and avoid letting the soil swing from very dry to very wet, which can cause cracking and misshapen roots.

How can I tell when my Bull’s Blood beets are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 50 days from sowing when roots are typically 1–2 inches wide for the best sweet-tender texture. You’ll also see the shoulder of the beet lifting at the soil surface and the greens are vigorous without turning yellow prematurely. If you want smaller salad-sized beets, pull earlier; if you wait too long, roots can get woody and lose sweetness.