Beets don’t get much more beautiful than this early 19th-century Italian heirloom from the Veneto. The bright red roots reveal the classic red and white bull’s-eye patterned interior when sliced crosswise. One of the most beautiful dishes we’ve ever made was a beet carpaccio, a pine nut pate sandwiched between two paper-thin marinated Chioggia slices and topped with pesto oil. The flavor is milder but sweeter than traditional dark red beets. Historically, Chioggia has been well known to be variable and funky in its genetics. We trialed through several strains before finding one we liked well enough to sell and have put in several generations of selection work since. We find ours to be as uniform yet more vigorous than the other “improved” entrant in this class, Guardsmark. 60 days. MP
Seeds can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring (April) and into late July. Some people try to push the season even earlier by sowing in flats indoors and transplanting, but we are not those kinds of people. Direct seeding is strongly recommended.
Note: Beets prefer cooler ambient temperatures, light, sandy, and loamy soil, and an even watering schedule (do not let the soil dry out before emergence!). For baby beets and greens, seeds can be sown every 2 weeks until 2 months before your first projected heavy frost.
PLANTING DEPTH:
1/2"
SPACING:
6-8 seeds per linear foot, thinning to 2-3" between plants in rows 12-18" apart. Each seed is actually many seeds encapsulated in one package!
EMERGENCE:
5-10 days @ soil temp 55-75F
LIGHT:
Full sun to part shade
FERTILITY:
Low to medium. While beets do prefer well-prepared and fertile (to avoid scab, make sure any addition of organic matter is well composted) soil, they will tolerate lower fertility. Aim for a neutral to slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Acidic soils (pH below 6.0) are a no no for beets!
Specific minerals needed for quality beets are boron (most common mineral deficiency in beets), calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Aim for 1-2-2 (N-P-K) fertilizer one week before sowing.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Remember that beets prefer cooler temperatures, even water, and space. Keep em weeded!
If you find that your beets are producing voluptuous greens and small roots, this means your soil is too heavy in Nitrogen.
Temperature fluctuations often causes zoning (white rings) in the roots.
