Beetroot Chioggia is an organically grown, very unusual and striking beetroot variety. They originate from Chioggia in Italy. These beetroots have a dark red outside and the inside has very beautiful and unusual red-white rings. This deliciously flavoured beetroot has a very mild and sweet flavour. Can be grown in almost every type of soil. This is a summer beetrootvariety.
Beetroot is very healthy and versatile. They contain a.o.: vitamin B1, B2, B5, B6, B11 and C. And the minerals: sodium, calcium, manganese, potassium, iron, phosphor, copper and zinc. Also a lot of fibre, betanin and very little calories. That's why beetroot is very healthy. You can cook, prepare them in the oven, eat them raw, bake, steam, stew, pickle in vinegar and use them in soups and mashed potato stews. Beetroot is delicious with: apple, potatoes, lettuce, onions, carrots, garlic, lemon, oranges, cheese, sour cream, nuts, chives, gherkin, rucola, corn salad, spinach, beef, eggs, chicken, minced meat and bacon. Hardy annual.
Soaking: ½ - 1 hour
Outdoor sowing: middle of April - middle of July
Germination: 7 - 21 days
Germination temp: 16 - 22°C
Sowing depth: 1 - 2½ cm
Row spacing: 30 cm
Planting position: sunny
Harvest period: July - September
Sow outdoors from the middle of April till the middle of July, when there's no more any danger of severe frosts and the soil is warmed up. Sow on a sunny plot with loose, freedraining soil. Remove as much stones as possible to give the roots a good chance to grow deep in the ground. Sow for a longer harvesting period, small amounts approx. 2 - 3 weeks from eachother.
Soak the seeds prior to sowing in tepid water for ½ - 1 hour to help the germination. Sow in rows approx. 30 cm apart every 5 cm 1 seed. Germination can take 7 - 21 days, depending on the weather and temperature. From each seed germinate about 3 seedlings. Remove all weak seedlings till 1 strongest per hole remains. Thin the seedlings, when they're approx. 5 cm long to 10 cm for little round beetroots and approx. 15 cm for larger elongated varieties.
Beetroot needs a lot of water during the growth, give enough water during dry-spells. Protect the beetroots against birds with nets. Harvest the beets when they're still young. You can harvest when the leaves begin to hang. Cut the leaves approx. 5 cm above the root to prevent bleeding and rotting. Eat your beetroots right after harvesting them. But It's possible to store them in a cool, dry, dark place in closed containers. Put the beetroots in layers and put some sand between each layer. This way you can store them for about one month.
