Lutz Long Season Beet — The Winter keeper Heirloom That Grows to 6 Inches and Never Gets Woody
Also known as Lutz Green Leaf and ‘Winter keeper,’ Lutz Long Season (Beta vulgaris) is the best beet for winter storage — full stop. Most beets turn tough and woody as they enlarge, but Lutz stays sweet, tender, and deeply flavorful all the way up to 6 inches in diameter and beyond. Reddish-purple roots with a sweet, tender flavor and a harvest window that stretches from summer through winter. The real showstopper is the tops: giant, glossy green leaves that are mouth-watering braised, sautéed, or used as a cooked green. Plant the second week of July for winter storage, mulch before the first freeze, and harvest as needed straight through the cold months. ~1,500 seeds/oz. 70 days.
Why Grow Lutz Long Season?
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Best beet for winter storage — also known as ‘Winter keeper’ for good reason
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Grows to 6+ inches without getting woody — stays sweet and tender at any size
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Reddish-purple roots, sweet tender flavor — excellent at any harvest stage
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Giant glossy green tops — mouth-watering braised or sautéed as a cooked green
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Extended harvest window — harvest from summer through winter as needed
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Mulch and leave in ground — harvest through the cold months without root cellar
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Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year
Growing Notes
Direct sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before last frost for summer harvest, or the second week of July for winter storage. Sow seeds ½ inch deep, 2–3 inches apart, in rows 12–18 inches apart. Thin to 4–6 inches for large root development — Lutz needs room to size up. Full sun to part shade. Keep soil consistently moist. For winter storage: cover with a thick layer of mulch before the first freeze to protect roots from freezing, then harvest as needed through winter. Roots grow to 6 inches or more without becoming tough or woody.
| Days to Maturity |
70 days |
| Root Size |
Up to 6+ inches diameter, reddish-purple |
| Also Known As |
Lutz Green Leaf, Winter keeper |
| Flavor |
Sweet and tender; stays non-woody even at large size |
| Tops |
Giant, glossy green; excellent braised or sautéed |
| Best Uses |
Winter storage, root cellaring, roasting, pickling, cooked greens |
| Winter Storage Tip |
Plant 2nd week of July; mulch before first freeze; harvest as needed |
| Seed Count |
~1,500 seeds/oz |
| Planting Depth |
½ inch |
| Plant Spacing |
Thin to 4–6 inches |
| Row Spacing |
12–18 inches |
| Light |
Full sun to partial shade |
| USDA Zones |
2–11 |
| Latin Name |
Beta vulgaris |
| Type |
Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Non-GMO, Annual |
Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.
