Chioggia beets is a classic Italian garden heirloom from the small town of Chioggia. The variety has been popular since 1840’s and sold throughout the Mediterranean. This variety very clean and crisp compared to the other red bleeding beets. Sliced beets have stunning red and white concentric rings and thus referred as bullseye beet or candy cane beet. Unlike other beets Chioggia has an especially sweet and mild earthy flavor.
Start with a light, moist soil, ideally with a PH level of 6.5 to 7. Sow the seeds half an inch deep, with three inches between plants and twelve to eighteen inches between rows. These seeds will need plenty of moisture while germinating, so keep the soil moist for the first twenty one days. These beets can thrive in conditions with full sun or partial shade. After forty to fifty two days, the beets should be two to three inches, and ready for harvesting.
Also known as beetroot and blood turnip, these beets are uniform in shape and flavor. They are known to grow in chilly Spring weather and are mostly problem free but sometimes get aphids or flea beetle. Control with insecticidal soap, pyrethrums, and good garden sanitation. Can be bottled or pickled. Perfect for canning. Cut up, blanche, and freeze in freezer bags. Pick leaves before any sign of wilt for tasty greens. A rich source of Iron, Calcium, and Vitamins: A, B1, B2, C, and Niacin. Heat and cold tolerant.