Beet “Cylindra” seeds

$3.50

This is my favourite beet variety.  Roots are tender and cylinder shaped making it very economical to grow giving more root for its growing space.  Dark green red veined leafy tops make a lovely fresh or steamed greens.

45 in stock

Description

This Denmark heirloom is my favourite beet variety.  Roots are tender and cylinder shaped making it very economical to grow giving more root for its growing space.  Dark green red veined leafy tops make a lovely fresh or steamed greens.  Very little goes to waste.  Makes wonderful canned beets. Roast, peel, hot pack in a brine of equal parts vinegar, water and sugar, and process in a hot water bath for 10 min for pints and 20 minutes for quarts (for us at sea level, it will be different for higher elevations).  Skin just slips off when roasted. Superior yum.

Beets grow quickly in light or loamy soils with a pH over 6.0. In general, cool temperatures produce the best flesh color. Extreme weather/ temperature fluctuations will cause white rings in the roots.

  • Seed Count: 75-100
  • Collection Date:  Oct 2022
  • Hardiness Zone:  biannual
  • Height and Width:  60cm x 60cm
  • Germination test type: actual: +80%

How to germinate and grow beets:

Sowing when soil has warmed to 8C° at a rate of a maximum of 12-15 seeds every 30cm at 1cm deep.  Thin accordingly to prevent roots/plants from crowding for optimum sized roots.  Culled plants are great for salads and other culinary delights.  If starting indoors, sow  4-6 weeks before transplanting out after heavy frosts have passed.  Beets need lots of water. Mulch bed and give 2cm of water weekly if rain hasn’t supplied enough.  Give high nitrogen fertilizer 6 weeks after planting.  I didn’t do this one year and the beets didn’t go anywhere.  Can over winter in mild winters, but they store well if you have to pluck them up and put them where its cool, dark and humidity is 50%.  ***Chard and beets will cross pollinate so be wary of this if you are saving seeds.

 

 

Additional information

Weight 3 g