Originally marketed in England as the usual plant for ornamental bedding schemes - the leaves almost look black in low light making a dramatic contrast neighbour flowers / foliage. Queen Victoria was quite partial to this affect & had flower beds at Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight planted with this variety. But it worth noting, this is a rather nice beetroot in its own right. Leaves are excellent in salads or the root can sliced & has light & dark concentric rings are rather pleasing to the eye.  
 
CULTURE – Ideally direct sow in Spring or Autumn to avoid heavy frost damage.  Preferers a sheltered sunny location with plenty of organic matter incorporated into the soil. Keep an eye out for slugs & snails as they adore all young seedlings. Thin out to 10cm (4”) intervals. Overall height: 20cm (8”).  Plants need to be kept moist to prevent premature bolting or bitterness. Weed carefully around plants so not to damage the root structure.