Beta vulgaris ssp. - A short lived perennial leafy chard relative. I have trialled this plant here, I grew it in a bed with full sun and no winter protection and it grew well and productively for three years, before it declined. Bietina produces a lot of fresh greens on a cut and come again basis. This vegetable is used widely in Italian cuisine. It is much sweeter than other chards, and is productive in hot weather. It survived through frost here also. Excess leaves can be fed to poultry.