Crosby Egyptian and Early Wonder also can be used for greens. Swiss chard is a heavy producer of greens very similar to beet greens. Beets can be harvested at any stage of development, from the thinning to the fully mature stage at about 2 inches in diameter. Thinnings can be eaten raw, tops included, in salads or roasted. Beets are high in natural sugar and roasting brings out the natural sweetness.
Beets vary in color and shape based on variety.
The most common is the deep maroon globe-shaped beet. There is an Italian variety which has pink and white rings upon slicing. The golden globe is globe-shaped and orange in color then it turns golden yellow when cooked. Another variety is white and still another is pink. When harvesting beets, separate the green tops from the roots leaving an inch of stem on the beet.