Egyptian Flat Beetroot Seeds Vilmorin - Early Variety, Dark Red Flesh

Egyptian Flat Beetroot Vilmorin (Reference: 3151041) is one of the varieties most valued by amateur and professional gardeners alike. This top-quality vegetable seed, selected by Vilmorin, the benchmark name in seed, produces the characteristic flat roots with fine, dark red flesh. Its earliness and exceptional keeping quality make it a favoured choice for every French vegetable plot.

Benefits and uses

Egyptian Flat Beetroot is for everyone who loves the vegetable garden, from beginners to experienced gardeners. Its distinctive flat shape makes harvesting and storing easier, while its tender, tasty flesh suits a wide variety of preparations. This early variety gives harvests from the beginning of summer, letting you stagger your sowings and enjoy fresh beetroot over a long period.

Excellent grated in raw salads, it also shows all its flavour once cooked. Catering professionals particularly value its intense dark red colour, which brings a remarkable decorative dimension to the plate. Its exceptional winter keeping lets you build up stores for the whole cold season — ideal for self-sufficiency.

Technical features and innovation

This Vilmorin variety stands out for its stabilised genetics, guaranteeing an even crop. The roots reach an ideal medium size, neither too small nor too bulky, which makes handling and cooking easier. The fine, tender flesh has an ideal texture, with no excess fibre even at advanced maturity.

The characteristic flat shape of this Egyptian beetroot makes storage easier and reduces the risk of damage during handling. This particular shape also means it adapts better to denser soils, unlike the long varieties, which need looser ground. The natural resistance of this variety to the main fungal diseases makes it a safe choice for growing without treatments.

The high germination rate of Vilmorin seed ensures an even emergence and an optimal planting density. The intense dark red colour comes from a high concentration of betalains, natural pigments with recognised antioxidant properties.

Sowing, use and care

Sowing Egyptian Flat Beetroot is done from March to June, making sure the soil temperature reaches at least 10°C to avoid premature bolting. Draw drills 2 cm deep, 25 to 30 cm apart. Sow in stations of 2 to 3 seeds every 10 cm, then cover lightly with fine soil.

Regular but moderate watering encourages even development. Avoid excess water, which could make the roots split. Thinning is necessary 3 to 4 weeks after emergence: keep only one plant per station, choosing the most vigorous.

Harvest comes 10 to 12 weeks after sowing, when the roots reach 6 to 8 cm across. Lift them gently with a digging fork to keep them intact. Cut the leaves 2 cm above the root before storing. Store in a cellar or clamp, in slightly damp sand, at a temperature of 2 to 4°C.

Tips, pairings and expert advice

To get the most from your Egyptian Flat Beetroot crop, pair it with leafy vegetables such as spinach or corn salad, which will benefit from the shade cast by its foliage. This companion planting makes the most of the space in the plot while improving the soil structure.

A dressing of well-rotted compost in the autumn before planting improves the quality and size of the roots considerably. Avoid fresh manure, which would encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of the roots. A slightly chalky soil (pH 6.5 to 7) suits this variety perfectly.

To stagger the harvests, make successive sowings every 3 weeks from March to June. This technique guarantees a steady supply of tender beetroot right through the season. The young leaves can be eaten like spinach — waste nothing!

In a dry spell, an organic mulch around the plants keeps the soil cool and limits evaporation. This practice also reduces weed growth and makes upkeep easier. For the best keeping, select only sound, undamaged roots, and check your winter store regularly.

Technical specifications