200 Chioggia Beet Seeds | Vegetable Seeds
 
 
This striking Italian heirloom beet has alternating red and white rings running through its roots. When baked whole and sliced just before serving, this sweet variety retains its unique markings. The roots have an excellent sweet flavor! Tops are green with pink-striped stems and mild. It has approximately 60 days to maturity.
Chiogga heirloom beet seeds come from the northern Italian coastal town of Chioggia, and arrived in America around 1865. Beets seem to have originated in the Mediterrenean region, where people grew them for thousands of years. Later, beets grew in Germany and Holland and were used as cattle fodder; they were later imported to England for this purpose, but the poor began to raise them for an affordable food source. American colonists later brought them to the New World, where they became a commonly enjoyed food both for their roots and their greens.
 
Sowing: Direct sow Chiogga beet seeds outside 4 weeks before the last expected frost. Soften the seeds by soaking them in water for 2 hours, then plant in full sun and well drained soil. Sow them 1" deep and 1" apart in rows 1-2' apart. Tamp down the earth above the seeds to ensure good contact with the soil, and germination should take place in 5-15 days. Add compost or other organic matter for healthy growth. For companion planting benefits, plant beets with bush beans, onions, or members of the cabbage family; avoid planting them near pole beans.
 
 
Growing: Since each beet "seed" holds up to 8 actual seeds, the seedlings will need to be thinned to 3" apart. The uprooted plants do well as a second crop, as transplanting them will set them about 2 weeks behind the original plants. Take care not to bruise the seedlings when weeding. They love cool weather, and can survive temperatures down to 25F.
 
 
Harvesting: Candy striped beets have the best taste and tenderness when they are harvested between 1" and 3" in diameter. After pulling them, twist off the tops about 1" up the stem to prevent the beets from bleeding. In order to preserve the unique coloring of Chioggia beets, process them whole and slice right before serving. Candy striped beets also produce lovely and tasty pink-stemmed tops that mature in 40 days. One-third of the tops can be harvested without damaging the plant.
 
 
Seed Saving: Since beets are wind pollinated, be sure to separate them from other varieties of chard and beet by at least two miles to preserve genetic purity. Beet plants must weather the winter in order to produce seed. In warmer climates, simply mulch the plants. In cooler climates, dig up the roots and store them in sand, without the roots touching each other, in a cool and humid location - plant them again in early spring. The plants will soon go to seed in the spring; wait until the seed heads are fully grown and dry before removing them. The seeds will readily come off the stems after they are completely dry. Store the seed in a cool, dry place for up to five years.