Beet, Forono (Organic)

Beta vulgaris. Cylindrical Red. 60 days.

A favorite beet variety of Elanor O’Brien of Persephone Farm in Lebanon, Oregon, one of the first certified organic farms in the state (since 1985!). We delight in recommendations from farmer seed stewards, especially for excellent varieties that have become hard to find, so when Elanor offered to grow us some seed, we eagerly agreed. She even wrote up the following description:

Forono is Elanor’s favorite beet. Why? “Given enough space and time, the roots can grow as large as those on the right [in the 2nd variety photo] without giving up any flavor or tenderness. If you prefer a more manageable size, start harvesting a little earlier, selectively, and you can still get some hefty beets like those in the middle. Or start earlier yet and get the smaller (but very respectable) roots on the left. Forono has all the earthy flavor you love in a beet, with lots of sweetness. It is wonderful grated fresh onto a salad or in a slaw, but when cooked it has a smooth, velvety texture unlike any other. Its shape allows for easy prep in the kitchen, especially for pickling and canning. Forono’s greens are tasteful but modest for easy bundling and packing. Forono performs fine in summer but excels for fall harvests (direct seeded once in mid-June then once more in mid-July). Make sure to pull all the roots you want for winter out of the field before temperatures drop below 20˚F. They keep well for 6 months refrigerated.”

Seed produced by Persephone Farm in Lebanon, Oregon.