Beta vulgaris 'Red Cloud'

Beetroot, Beta vulgaris, is easy to grow and makes the perfect crop for 'beginner' gardeners. Roots are usually cylindrical or globe-shaped, and range in colour from darkest purple-red to pink, yellow and even white. Harvest them when they are young – no bigger than a golf ball – and eat them pickled, roasted, or grated and used in salads. Don't forget the leaves, which can also be harvested – use young greens in salads and older ones blanched like spinach.

Beta vulgaris 'Red Cloud' is an early maturing variety, with an incredibly high sugar content, making the deliciously sweet roots perfect for eating raw in salads. The bulbs is smooth and round, and stores well into autumn.