Fodder Beet 'Brigadier' (Beta vulgaris) seeds

'Brigadier' is a large, robust yellow fodder beet. Traditionally the beets and leaves are used as fresh fodder for cattle and sheep. In fact the distinction between fodder beets and table beets was only introduced in the 18th century and fodder beets are also perfectly good for eating. In the kitchen the beets are used to make traditional, hearty beet stews and the leaves can also be used, in the same way as chard.

In North-Western Germany beet juice has traditionally been used as a home remedy for coughs. The beet is hollowed out and filled to the brim with with brown rock sugar (a German speciality) then covered and left to infuse. After just 12 hours the first batch of beet juice will be ready to pour – and should be administered to the invalid in shot-sized doses three to four times a day.

In Ireland, beets and turnips rather than pumpkins were hollowed and given grinning faces for Halloween – though in fact these “Jack-o-lanterns” are a folk tradition dating back much further than our present-day Halloween customs.