How to Grow Bull's Blood
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Bull's Blood
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
vegetableBull's Blood is a stunning beet variety prized for its deep crimson foliage and exceptional ornamental appeal. While it produces small, dark red roots, it's primarily grown for its vibrant, tender leaves that are excellent in salads and cooked greens. This dual-purpose plant combines edible functionality with striking visual impact in the garden.
When should you plant Bull's Blood in your zone?
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Example Bull's Blood timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Bull's Blood
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Bull's Blood
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Bull's Blood dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-9; best grown as a cool-season crop in spring and fall
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Germination & Seedling
2-3 weeksSeeds sprout within 7-14 days; seedlings emerge with cotyledons and first true leaves appearing bright green, then rapidly darkening to deep red.
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Thin crowded seedlings to proper spacing early to reduce competition. Provide bright light if indoors.
Vegetative Growth
3-5 weeksPlant develops multiple deep crimson leaves with prominent veining. Foliage expands rapidly, creating a dense mound of ornamental, edible leaves. Root begins to swell underground.
Maintain consistent moisture and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer if using for greens. Thin to final spacing if not done earlier. Mulch around plants.
Leaf Harvest
Continuous, 4-8+ weeksOuter leaves reach full size and optimal tenderness for salad use. Young, tender inner leaves continue to develop. Plant maintains ornamental appearance.
Begin harvesting outer leaves when 4-6 inches long. Harvest regularly to encourage continued growth and tenderness. Avoid removing more than one-third of foliage at once.
Root Development & Maturity
6-8 weeksIf allowing roots to mature, beets swell to golf ball to tennis ball size (typically 1-2 inches diameter). Roots develop deep red color throughout.
Stop harvesting outer leaves 2-3 weeks before intended harvest to allow energy to go to root. Avoid high nitrogen at this stage. Keep soil consistently moist.
Harvest Ready
Ready at 50+ daysLeaves are fully mature and highly ornamental; roots reach desired size. Plant may bolt (send up flower stalk) in warm weather or after cold exposure.
Harvest roots by gently pulling from soil or digging carefully. Use tender harvested leaves fresh. Store roots in cool conditions. If bolting occurs, plant is past peak but roots still edible.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use row covers on young plants, neem oil spray, or diatomaceous earth. Avoid overhead watering which creates favorable conditions.
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Remove affected leaves, use yellow sticky traps, spinosad spray, or neem oil. Maintain plant health through proper watering.
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Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, or encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
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Hand-pick, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), spinosad, or pyrethrin sprays. Row covers on seedlings.
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Improve air circulation, water at soil level (not overhead), remove infected leaves, apply sulfur or copper fungicide if severe.
Uses
Salad Greens & Cooked Vegetables
CulinaryBull's Blood leaves are exceptionally tender and mildly sweet when young, perfect for fresh salads and adding visual drama to plates. Mature leaves can be lightly steamed, sautéed, or added to soups like traditional beet green preparations. [source]
Edible Root Harvest
CulinaryThough smaller than storage beet varieties, Bull's Blood roots are completely edible and delicious. Roast, boil, pickle, or grate raw into salads for deep red color and sweet, earthy flavor. [source]
Ornamental Vegetable Garden & Cut Foliage
HouseholdThe striking deep crimson leaves make Bull's Blood an ideal ornamental addition to borders, containers, and decorative vegetable gardens. Leaves can be cut and used as edible garnish or in floral arrangements. [source]
Nutritional & Health Properties
MedicinalBoth leaves and roots are nutrient-dense, rich in vitamins A, C, K, folate, and beneficial compounds like betalains (responsible for the deep color) which have antioxidant properties. Beet greens are especially high in oxalic acid and various minerals. [source]
Natural Food Dye
CraftBull's Blood provides a deep red to purple dye that can be extracted from leaves and roots for natural fabric dyeing or food coloring purposes. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
For greens: Harvest outer leaves when 4-6 inches long, starting at 30-40 days. Pinch or cut leaves just above soil line or peel away from plant. Morning harvest yields crispest leaves. Can harvest continuously for 4-8+ weeks. For roots: Harvest when 1-2 inches diameter (50-70 days), or wait up to 80 days for larger roots. Gently pull or dig to avoid damage. Best flavor when harvested in cool weather. Young beets are more tender; larger ones develop more earthiness.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bull's Blood was originally bred in the 1920s and was nearly lost to cultivation before being revived by seed savers; it remains a favorite heirloom variety today.
- 🌱 The deep red color of Bull's Blood comes from betalain pigments, the same compounds that make regular beets red, but Bull's Blood has exceptionally high concentrations in both leaf and root.
- 🌱 Bull's Blood can tolerate light frost and actually becomes sweeter after a cold exposure, making it ideal for spring and fall planting in most climates.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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