Beet 'Golden' Heirloom (50 seeds)
Best Seller! This variety dates back to the 1820s or before. The very sweet beets are a rich, golden yellow, and they won’t bleed like red beets. The greens are also very tasty. The most popular variety with our staff.
Golden Beetroots have been around since the early 1800s, but this variety was first sold by Burpee in the 1940s. It was advertised as a lovely, deep yellow beet that would not bleed. Beets seem to have originated in the Mediterranean region, where people grew them for thousands of years.
Later, beets grew in Germany and Holland and were used as cattle fodder. They were later imported to England for this purpose, but the poor began to raise them as an affordable food source. American colonists later brought Golden Beetroots to the New World, where they became a commonly enjoyed food both for their roots and their greens.
55 days to maturity.
Approximately 50 seeds per packet.
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Culture
• Beets perform best in fertile, evenly moist soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
• Uniform soil moisture is essential
• Sudden changes in temperature or soil moisture will increase zoning (ring formation in the root) and lead to premature bolting
• Transplanting not recommended as it can damage the tap root
Direct Sowing
• Incorporate a shovelful of compost and 1/4 cup of balanced organic slow release fertilizer and 1/4 cup of organic bone meal and mix into the bottom of the furrow
• Cover seeds with sifted compost, loose soil, or vermiculite and water evenly
• Use row cover when soil temperatures are cool and to protect from pests
• Sow June—August for a fall crop
Insects & Diseases
• Common insects: Leaf miners, flea beetles, and leaf hoppers
• Insect control: Pick off affected leaves and check for eggs—if found, spray with Pyrethrin
• Common diseases: Scab
• Disease prevention: Neutral pH (7.0), 3-4 year crop rotation, keep adequately watered
• Common pests: Mice, voles, and gophers
• Pest control: Traps or underground screens
Harvest & Storage
• Harvest when roots reach desired size; small roots are tender, large roots may become woody if left in the ground too long
• Leaves can be used as pot greens or in salads
• Trim tops and store at 36°F and 95% relative humidity
Fall & Winter Harvest
• Beets should be harvested before temperatures drop to the 15-20°F range
• If you are in a temperate climate, and your soil is well drained, your best location for root storage is in the garden under a protective layer of straw