Beet, also known as water shield and sugar radish, is a biennial herb. The first year is mainly vegetative growth, and rich nutrients are accumulated in the hypertrophic roots. In the second year, reproductive growth is the main thing, and the flowers are taken out and pollinated by cross-pollination to form seeds.

Cultivated beet species include four types: leaf beet (pachyrhizus), root beet (edible beet or red beet), feed beet and sugar beet. At present, sugar beet is the main sugar beet.