Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Beretroot: selected cultivars: Cheltenham Green Top


Beetroot: Cheltenham Green Top

Grown on my allotment in a deep bed in 2004

Long and large red roots, parsnip-like in appearance. Grew well. Apart from top of crown, roots below soil level.



In taste tests, it rated fairly well. Compared to eleven other varied cultivars, it was among the sweetest. It has a delicate flavour, with some earthiness. Some tasters detected a slight bitterness. It is paler red in colour when cooked than most modern globe beetroot.



Cheltenham Green Top or Cheltenham Greentop is one of the most popular long-rooted beetroot cultivars grown today. It is an old variety, which has been around since well before the 1880s in England. Cheltenham Green Top has long deep-purple tapering roots with a conical crown. It has a lower germination rate than most beetroot. The roots can reach 15 cm in circumference and 23 cm in length. The skin is smooth and the flesh has a slightly coarse texture, but an excellent flavour. It stores well. The cooked roots are bright red and good for slicing.


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