Beet tops, high in vitamin C, may be used as food and are prepared in the same manner as spinach. Beet tops and spinach also contain oxalic acid. Consuming large amounts of either with a low calcium diet can cause a calcium deficiency and diarrhea. It is best to eat a balanced diet to avoid this problem. Use tender young beet leaves as the oxalic acid content increases in older plants in late summer and fall.
Most people are familiar with red table beets.
There are also novelty yellow and white fleshed beets. Besides globe shaped beets there are a few cylindrical and tapered cultivars. Detroit Dark Red , Ruby Queen and Perfected Detroit have performed well in Nebraska trials and are the leading garden varieties in the United States. These varieties produce globe shaped roots with dark red flesh excellent for canning, and eating freshly prepared. Crobsy Egyptian and Early Wonder are flat or globular early maturing cultivars.