Sugar Beet Seeds - Beta Vulgaris var. Altissima - Delicious & Versatil
Quantity: 100 Seeds
Sugar Beets are likely the most used but least grown varieties of Beet by home gardeners. All the sugar created in the north is created from the sugar beet rather the sugar cane. The roots contain about 20% sugar by weight, and have an amazing flavour that tastes less 'beety" than traditional red beets. They also exhibit good cold resistance so the plants can store in the earth throughout the whole winter to ensure a constant supply of food during the coldest months. The plants are easy to grow, and don't require much attention other than regular waterings, and a good layer of mulch. The plants are very disease and pest resistant too.
Its a lot of fun to extract your own sugar and molasses at home, but if thats not your goal, then the roots also lend themselves well to all sorts of dishes including soups, stir frys, baking, juicing, and flavouring deserts.
All seeds are organic and open pollinated.
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Growing Instructions
It's best to start Beet seeds as early in the season as possible, but can be planted any time from spring until mid August; we start them here on the farm in February to ensure the roots grow as large as possible. It's good to sow them in a sterile growing medium; most available seed starting soils should do the job nicely; we use sunshine mix (peat moss and perlite). The soil should be made moist, but not damp. Sow the seeds 1/8 inch below the soil surface. Store in a warm area until tiny sprouts emerge from the soil. Seeds can take between 2-4 weeks to germinate, but they can sometimes take less time too. Once germinated, and the first true leaf has formed, it's time to pot up to a larger container that contains a good quality potting soil. Transplant to their final location in the ground when the nighttime temperatures are consistently 10°C or higher. They do best when spaced every 12 inches. Beets grow best in full sun.