Beets grow well in a variety of soils, growing best in a deep, friable well-drained soil abundant with organic matter, but doing poorly on clay. They prefer an open position and a light well-drained soil. The optimum pH is 6.0 - 6.8, but neutral and alkaline soils are tolerated in some areas. Some salinity may be tolerated after the seedling stage. Beets are notable for their tolerance to manganese toxicity. Beet is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 23 to 315cm, an average annual temperature range of 5.0 to 26.6°C and a pH of 4.2 to 8.2. This is the wild beetroot of coastal areas. The cultivated beetroot, sugar beet, seakale beet and Swiss chard have all been developed from this species by means of selective breeding.

Young leaves - raw or cooked. A delicious spinach substitute in the spring, the leaves become less pleasant as the season progresses, developing a distinct bitterness in hot weather. Some people dislike the raw leaves since they can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Seed - sow March to May in situ.

Banks and shingle by the coast.