Forono

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Sweet, earthy-sweet flavor blooms with a clean, tender bite in Forono cylindrical beets—deeply colored roots that stay impressively smooth from garden to table.

Expect a fine, even texture with minimal zoning, ideal for roasting until caramelized at the edges or simmering into vibrant, velvety sauces and vivid pickles. Forono’s uniform shape makes it a standout for home gardeners who want reliable color and a refined beet experience at about 75 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Taproot

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	Jul 9th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	50
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Forono’s smooth, evenly tender cylinders cook up without the gritty zoning that can spoil a beet’s texture—so you get that clean, earthy-sweet bite in every forkful. Roast for caramelized edges or simmer into a sauce/pickling brine where its color and fine mouthfeel stay front and center.

Best Uses

roasting, wrapped or open, until the edges turn caramel-brown
simmering into a velvety sauce that stays vivid red
quick-pickling for snappy, jewel-like slices
grating raw into a vinegar-and-fines-herb salad

Flavor Profile

earthy-sweet beetiness clean, tender bite smooth, fine texture with minimal zoning sweet caramel notes at the edges

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese horseradish balsamic vinegar orange thyme brown butter

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often affects Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (beet) like Forono, and how can I control it?

Beet plants commonly get Cercospora leaf spot, which starts as small brown-to-gray spots on older leaves and can reduce root size if it spreads. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow between plants, and avoid wetting the foliage when you water. If it keeps worsening, use a labeled fungicide that targets leaf spot on edible beet foliage and follow label timing through the season.

How often should I water Forono beets during their main growth, and what soil moisture target should I maintain?

During the main bulking phase (roughly after thinning until roots are half-grown), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then allow the top 1 inch of soil to slightly dry before watering again to prevent rot. Mulch helps stabilize moisture and reduces the chance of cracked or woody roots.

How do I know when Forono beets are ready to harvest?

Start checking about 70–75 days after sowing for the typical beet size you want—Forono is generally ready when roots are firm and have reached their expected diameter (often around 1.5–3 inches depending on how you thin). Avoid leaving them in the ground too long because they can turn woody as they oversize. Harvest by loosening the soil and pulling by the tops, then trim leaves to reduce wilting and wash for storage.