Beets

	Chioggia (Dolce Di Chioggia) BEET, STRIPED 3g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31101 Price:$2.55 Quantity in Basket: none
52 days. [Pre-1840 heirloom.] 'Chioggia' is a beautiful bicolored scarlet red garden beet with interior rings of reddish-pink and white. This specialty Italian variety is notable for its earliness, attractive color, relative absence of bleeding, and its ability to compete with weeds. Pkt. (3 g) "A great variety for market growers- cut this one open on the table to attract some attention." -- Katie "Radish" Bruce
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	Chioggia BEET, STRIPED 28g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31101E Price:$5.50 Quantity in Basket: none
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	Crosby Egyptian (Early Crosby Egyptian) BEET 5g seed Code: 31102 Price:$2.25 Quantity in Basket: none
60 days. [Introduced 1880. The parent strain of the Egyptian beet was introduced from Germany in 1865. 'Crosby Egyptian' became commercially available in 1880 after seedsman James Gregory purchased this beet from market gardener Josiah Crosby.] This variety has been selected and refined over the years. Roots grow 3-5", are very flattened in shape, and grow virtually on the surface of the soil. The roots have a dull red skin and dark red interior. Pkt.
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	Detroit Dark Red BEET 5g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31103 Price:$1.99 Quantity in Basket: none
60 days. [Introduced 1892.] Developed from the popular 19th century 'Early Blood Turnip'. Widely adapted, very popular dark red beet with dark green foliage and some red coloration. Use fresh or canned. Resistant to downy mildew. Excellent flavor. Pkt. Photo Copyright Laura Sutherland courtacy of Bill Van Doren and Laura Sutherland.
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	Detroit Dark Red BEET 28g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31103E Price:$5.50 Quantity in Basket: none
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	Early Wonder Tall Top BEET 5g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31104 Price:$2.05 Quantity in Basket: none
50 days. [Introduced 1911.] Used for early spring sowings, this versatile beet has choice tall tops for greens and dark red roots for salads, pickles, borscht, or sliced, cooked beets. Grows rapidly, producing uniform roots. Plant spring or fall. Pkt.
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	Bull's Blood BEET 5g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 31106 Price:$2.35 Quantity in Basket: none
35 days for baby leaves, 60 days for roots. [French variety, introduced 1840.] Famous for its mild, dark leaves – usually harvested young for salad mix before the roots have even matured. Flattened round roots, but the leaves are the real attraction – their reddish-purple color comes out most strongly in cool weather. Pkt
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HISTORY: Until the 1800's, beets were referred to as blood turnips because of their red turnip-like roots. The round and flat-bottomed beets of today are an improved form. CULTURE: Beets should be grown in a light loam of pH 6.5 to 7.0. If soil pH is below 6, sprinkle limestone or wood ashes in the row as you plant, otherwise yield will be seriously impaired. An even supply of moisture and absence of extended periods of hot weather is necessary for development of fine quality roots. In dry, hot weather beets can become tough and stringy and must be harvested at an earlier stage. Sow seeds 1/2" deep directly in the garden from March through mid-May and again during the latter half of August. Late spring and early fall sowings should be 3/4" deep. Thin to 8 to 12 plants per foot for fresh beets, 6 plants per foot for beets used for winter storage. SEED SAVERS: Plants are biennial. Grow only one variety for seed. Isolate by 1/4 mile from chard and beets. For pure seed isolate by a minimum of 1/2 to 1 mile. PACKET: Seed size varies considerably: 5 g (unless noted, average 385 seeds) sows 31'.