Looking for some background on this beet

SuntannedSwede · April 4, 2017

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?

KarenO · April 4, 2017

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

SuntannedSwede · April 4, 2017

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?

AlittleSalt · April 4, 2017

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.

SuntannedSwede · April 5, 2017

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

April 4, 2017	#1
SuntannedSwede Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Alberta, Canada (Zone 3a) Posts: 87	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?

April 4, 2017	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	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 05:40 AM.

April 4, 2017	#4
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	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.

April 5, 2017	#5
SuntannedSwede Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Alberta, Canada (Zone 3a) Posts: 87	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