Beet Seeds - Chioggia
$3.25
Beta vulgaris
HEIRLOOM. The Chioggia beet is an Italian specialty dating back to the 1840s. Sometimes referred to as Candystripe or Bull’s Eye, the rounded red roots reveal a striking pink and white bullseye pattern when sliced into. This beet is a festive and stunning addition to any dish. The greens of the Chioggia beet can also be eaten and cooked similarly to spinach. In our opinion, the flavor is not quite as sweet as typical beets, but delicious all the same, and they don’t stain quite as intensely as the better known deep, red beets.
Early spring or early fall are the most popular times to sow Chioggia beet seeds, but beets can be grown and harvested well into the summer particularly in cooler zones. They do best when days are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit and nights are on the cooler 40 to 50 degree side. In spring, plant as soon as soil is workable. In the fall, sow the seeds eight to ten weeks before your first frost. Fall beets tend to be sweeter because the cooler temperatures result in higher sugar levels. Chioggia beets will need full sun to grow the best roots but partial shade will result in lots of delicious beet greens as well. These beets mature in just 55 days. Full sun. Grown as an annual.
Minimum 110 seeds per packet.
- Planting Information
- How to Grow
- Saving Seeds
| Min. Seeds / Packet | Packet Weight | Planting Season | Planting Method |
| 110 | 2 grams | spring or fall | direct seed |
| Seed Depth | Direct Seed Spacing | Soil Temp. Range | Days to Sprout |
| 1/2" | 1-2" | 40-85 ℉ | 5-17 |
| Mature Spacing | Sun Requirement | Frost Tolerance | Days to Harvest |
| 3-5" | full sun | frost-tolerant | 54 |
How to Plant Chioggia Beet Seeds
Chioggia beet seeds should be planted in an area with full sun (or partial shade, but remember these conditions will produce largely beet greens rather than roots). Like other roots, beets appreciate fertile, loose soil that is well-draining and evenly moist. Ahead of planting, you can amend the soil with compost or leaf mulch.
Like most root crops, we typically recommend direct seeding your beets in the garden. Some growers do choose to transplant their beets but this can disturb the root and cause undue stress. However, it works very well for certain growers so try both and see which you prefer! Plant your beet seeds ½ inch deep and one to two inches apart. As they germinate, in the next week or two, thin the seedlings until they are three to five inches apart. Keep the seedlings to throw on your next salad or sandwich like microgreens!
Like most seeds, Chioggia beets need consistent and regular watering in order to germinate effectively. We recommend watering everyday until germination. After germination, Chioggia beets will benefit from at least an inch of water per week.
When to Plant Chioggia Beet Seeds
Chioggia beets are a cool weather crop and do best when planted for a spring or fall harvest. Beets can germinate in soil temperatures up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, however, the warm weather can cause beets to become woody and bitter. If you are on top of harvesting - and are okay with harvesting smaller beets (before they become too tough), in many zones beets can be sown throughout the summer as well. In the spring, beet seeds can be planted as soon as the soil is workable - typically four to six weeks before the last frost. In the fall, they can be sown four to six weeks before the first frost.
Beets are extremely frost tolerant and will germinate in temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also withstand frost fairly far into the winter once established. Beets are an excellent early or late crop in the cool weather garden. To extend your season even longer, utilize cold frames or row cover to protect tender seedlings from frost. Beets can be sown in successions every two to three weeks throughout the growing season for a continuous harvest.
Where to Plant Chioggia Beet Seeds
Chioggia beet seeds can be planted in a spot with full sun to partial shade. If there is too much shade, your crops may put more work into producing foliage than large, impressive roots. However, beet greens are delicious so it won’t hurt to end up with a few extra of those too! They will love rich, well-draining soil. Before planting, soil can be amended with plenty of compost and organic matter, especially if you deal with clay soils like we do here in zone seven. We recommend rotating all of your crops. Try to select a location that hasn’t had other beets in it in the last two to three years.
How Often to Water Chioggia Beet Seeds
As always, it is really important to water regularly and maintain soil dampness from the time you plant a seed until it is a more established plant at which point it is better equipped to handle environmental stress. Not watering enough is the number one reason people struggle with germination and survival of seedlings! Chioggia beets will appreciate at least one inch of water per week throughout their growing season.
How to Harvest Chioggia Beet Seeds
Harvesting Chioggia beets is not complicated but there are some things to keep in mind when pulling up these root crops. They can be harvested for eating at any stage. The larger they are, the deeper they are, and the more difficult it can be to pull them from the ground - depending on how compacted your soil is.
These beets produce pretty hefty foliage so you can typically pull them from the ground with your hand around the crown of the plant. For larger, more mature plants, consider using a digging fork inserted in the soil at least six inches away from the plant. Lift the soil around the plant, which will loosen the soil and make it easier to pull the beet from the ground. Be sure to harvest all of your beets before it gets too hot in the spring (when they will become woody and bitter) or too cold in the fall (not too many 20 degree nights in a row).
Read more about how to grow beets on our blog!
The species Beta vulgaris is a biennial that includes beets and swiss chard. Being a biennial, beets must be overwintered before they can flower and set seed. This species requires at least 10 weeks of temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Beets are wind-pollinated and can easily cross with each other. To grow Chioggia beets for seed, we’d recommend having an isolation distance of 800 feet to one mile. Remember, however, that you need not isolate your varieties unless you expect them to be flowering at the same time.
To grow Chioggia beets for seed, we’d recommend having a population size of at least five plants (though between 20 and 80 is typically recommended for large scale genetic preservation). You should note that when growing Chioggia beets for seed, the mature spacing distance increases to 18 inches with rows 36 inches apart and staking your plants is recommended as the flower spikes can reach or exceed four feet in height. This will allow for ample room and airflow around the plants, ensuring healthy seed production.
How to Harvest Chioggia Beet Seeds
Harvesting Chioggia beet seeds, a biennial crop, is done in the second year after the beets have overwintered. This wind-pollinated crop produces flower spikes that mature from the bottom of the plant to the top. Due to this gradual maturity, the seeds also mature, first at the bottom of the plant and later the top. Once pollinated, the flower produces a fruit that commonly fuses with a fruit around it, containing multiple seeds within. This is why, when planting beets or chard, you may plant only one “seed” but multiple plants germinate. These fused fruits are known as multigerm. The fruits will start out as green, and then turn brown, gradually maturing up the plant. Seeds are mature when the fruits are dry and brown. Harvest when approximately two thirds of the fruits on the stalk are dry and brown. Depending on the amount of what you’re attempting to save, stalks can be cut individually or entire plants can be pulled and moved to a place where they can continue to dry for seven to 14 days.
The seeds can be threshed by running a hand over the length of the stalk with a container placed underneath to catch the fruits (seeds). Once stripped of seeds, the stalks can be composted. Beta vulgaris seeds can be expected to hold their viability for five years if stored under cool, dry conditions in an airtight container.