Long Season Winter Keeper

Purple, broad elliptic roots. Semi-smooth skin. Purple flesh with moderate concentric rings. Good flavor, sweet, less earthy. Leaves green, sometimes with purple veins; upright. Petioles green with purple streaks. Beets 3" long, 2.5" wide, and 5-9oz at market maturity. About 25% of roots were forked in 2016 growout at Heritage Farm. Shallow longitudinal groove on some roots. Long season. Reputedly stores very well. This accession matches the description of Winterkeeper listed in the Bolgiano catalogue from 1949. Acquired by SSE from Gurney Seed and Nursery Company (CV Gur). Several American seed companies such as Henry A. Dreer, Bolgiano's Seeds, and Vaughan's Seed Store have offered beet varieties named 'Winterkeeper', 'Winter Keeper', and 'Long Season' since the 1940s and 1950s. SSE Accession # 106266