Beta vulgaris 'Solo'

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.

British-bred Beta vulgaris 'Solo' is a monogerm variety of beetroot, meaning it produces only one seedling per seed cluster rather than three, therefore reducing the need for thinning out seedlings. Roots are smooth, round and have a high sugar content. Plants show good resistance to bolting and powdery mildew.