(55 votes, average: 3.38 out of 5)
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Sea Beet
Edible 
Autumn 
Spring 
Summer 
Winter
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.
| Hedgerow Type | |
| Common Names | Sea Beet, Wild Spinach |
| Scientific Name | Beta vulgaris maritima |
| Season Start | Jan |
| Season End | Dec |
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.
5 comments for Sea Beet
I would love to receive some sea beat seeds please. I walked near coast California, I did not find.
I will pay for the cost of seeds and postage.
Thank you much 🙏
Kim Rush.
116 North San Pedro RD
San Rafael, CA 94903
I’m afraid I live many miles from the sea so I don’t have access to sea beat to collect seeds for you.
If I happen upon it and it’s seeding I shall collect some for you. 🙂
I have just had my 1st taste of Sea Beet and was very tasty simmered it with abit of butter with salt and pepper yum yum… we live on the Devon coast in England and its a plenty here and wild samphire to… love foraging
Yesterday we walked along the coastal path from Stifkey to Wells Next to Sea. We came across an elderly gentleman harvesting young leaves of Sea Beet. I’ll pick some next time I’m there.