Really common and superior in taste and texture to spinach, Sea Beet is a must have to the forager when anywhere close to the coast.
Home / Hedgerow Guide /
Sea Beet
(55 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)
Loading…
Sea Beet
| Hedgerow Type | |
| Common Names | Wild Spinach |
| Scientific Name | Beta vulgaris maritima |
| Season Start | Jan |
| Season End | Dec |
Please note that each and every hedgerow item you come across may vary in appearance to these photos.
Leaves
The glossy dark green, thick, succulent leaves can vary from oval to diamond shaped and can be smooth, wrinkled or twisted.
Flowers
The flowers grow in pairs, back to back and are tiny with five green petals, these grow along the upright stem.
Flower Buds
The unopened flowers can show some red colouring and like the flowers grow back to back.
Habitat
This hardy plant usually grows around the coast on mudflats, field edges, shingle, between rocks and among sand dunes but will grow inland, especially if planted on an allotment or in a vegetable garden.
Taste
The leaves taste very much like spinach but are superior, especially when cooked.
The roots taste sweet and can be used like sweet potato. You must have the landowners permission to uproot any plant.
Frequency
Very common around most of the British coast especially in the South East, less common in Scotland.
Collecting
The young leaves in Spring are the best but they can be found all year.
The roots are similar to sweet potato but permission from the landowner must be sought before uprooting any plant.
The seeds can be planted on an allotment or vegetable patch where they usually thrive.
Other Facts
Sea Beet is the ancestor to beetroot, sugar beet and swiss chard an is a member of the Amaranthaceae family.
