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Old April 4, 2017   #1
SuntannedSwede
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Default Looking for some background on this beet

I bought some 'Lutz Green Leaf' beet seeds a few months ago from an heirloom website, and I've been trying to find out where they come from ever since. I'm an Albertan and I like to collect seeds from cultivars that have roots in and around the area.

It looks like it has some history in Western Canada, but I can't for the life of me find any specific sources or records. It is included in a historical garden at Heritage Park in Calgary. One seed company says that it has an Amish/Mennonite origin, and the name certainly suggests some sort of German or Anabaptist connection, but I haven't been able to find any supplementary information.

Does anybody know where this beet may have come from?
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Old April 4, 2017   #2
KarenO
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Hello,
Knew a large family named Lutz in sturgeon county Alberta neighbors growing up
Quite certain your beet is a German heirloom. Goes by other names such as winterkeeper and green salad chard. Try googling winterkeeper lutz beet or German lutz beet.
KarenO

Last edited by KarenO; April 4, 2017 at 04:40 AM.
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Old April 4, 2017   #3
SuntannedSwede
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Thanks for the leads Karen. There's a fair number of Germans in that area, that's for sure! I have been conducting a search 'auf Deutsch' as well but no leads so far.

The 'Winterkeeper' beet has raised more questions- 'Lutz Green Leaf' has a green leaf stalk all the way down to the root, while 'Winterkeeper' appears to have a red leaf stalk. Apart from the difference in colour, they seem to have the same characteristics in terms of size and taste, different strains of the same beet?
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Old April 4, 2017   #4
AlittleSalt
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The first thing I noticed is that you are in zone 3A Canada, and I am in zone 8A Texas. I thought to myself, "How can any advice or info that I know help you?" I looked up info anyway.

When I looked 'Lutz Green Leaf' beet up I found many seed selling sites. By what all I read, I think it may not be a German variety per se, but a European variety instead. This site https://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search?item=2170 pretty much agrees what I think. It sounds like a good tasting beet with a long storage life.

I have only grown Detroit Dark Red beets. They are very tasty. To me, they are a blend of earthy soil and sunshine in the form of a beet. Here in zone 8A Texas - it was too hot to grow good tasting beets, so I did not plant any this year.
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Old April 4, 2017   #5
SuntannedSwede
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Hey I appreciate that! Its always nice to see what you and Worth have going on down in Texas, it just snowed here again today.

It looks like a few seed vendors describe it as a "European" beet, I will start combing through a few more seed catalogues then.

I have heard good things about Detroit red, it sounds like a very 'beety' beet. It seems your climate is better suited for tomatoes! Thanks for the tip.

The search continues
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