Episode 21

Beta vugaris (beetroot, Swiss chard, sugar beet, mangold...)!

Published on: 21st January, 2022

Beetroot, spinach beets, Swiss chard, sugar beets, mangel wurzel and fodder beets are all the same species?! Which plant is the wild ancestor of this widely cultivated vegetable? What is mangel wurzel? Why should you consider growing and incorporating Beta vulgaris into your diet?

Opening tune: Amaranthaceae by Carmen Porter (https://carmenporter.com)


References:

https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Beta_vulgaris.html


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353802475_Evolution_of_Root_Morphology_in_Table_Beet_Historical_and_Iconographic


https://www.betterhensandgardens.com/growing-mangel-beets-for-chickens/


https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Beta_vulgaris.html


https://www.seedsavers.org/grow-beet


https://www.nutritionadvance.com/beet-greens-nutrition-benefits/

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About the Podcast

Song and Plants
Botanical musings and music
Learning the binomial nomenclature (scientific names) of biota is a fascinating way to glean insight into the natural world. Though daunting at first, they can become familiar and accessible with the help of melody and context. This podcast will present tunes where the scientific names of species comprise the lyrical content. Episodes will describe habitats, growing conditions, nutritional information, and locate species within their taxonomic hierarchy. Historical significance, interviews and anecdotal stories will also be presented. Each musical release will inspire eight weekly episodes. Come grow with me!

About your host

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Carmen Porter

Growing up, my playground was the forest and orchard behind my house which were teeming with fascinating flora and fauna. I was the little girl singing to her extensive plant collection and pet caterpillars. After leaving home for too many years to pursue higher education and wander around the world, I returned to plant a garden. There are currently more than 500 cultivars of fruits and vegetables growing around my house.

'Song and Plants' came about when I started writing music to help me learn the binomial nomenclature (scientific names) of local biota. The podcast accompanies the tunes by providing information that extends beyond the lyrical content.