Root Vegetable
Chioggia Guardsmark Beet is an improved strain of the classic Italian Chioggia variety, prized for its striking concentric rings of red and white flesh that make it as beautiful to slice as it is to eat. This open-pollinated cultivar reaches harvest maturity in just 55 days from seed, making it one of the quickest beets to table. It thrives in cool-season gardens and performs best in light, loamy soils with a pH above 6.0, rewarding attentive growers with uniform roots and vibrant interior color.
2-3 inches apart
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Moderate
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?in H x ?in W
Biennial
Moderate
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What sets Guardsmark apart is its reliable performance as an improved Chioggia strain paired with impressively quick turnaround, 55 days from seed to harvest. The striking candy-striped interior is most brilliant when grown in cool conditions, though sudden temperature swings can trigger unwanted white ring zoning in the roots. Whether you're harvesting for fresh market bunches or planning winter storage, this variety adapts well to both timelines, keeping up to 6 months in proper cold storage or staying fresh for a quick 10-day window in the crisper.
These beets are excellent raw in salads where their striking concentric rings become the star of the plate, or roasted whole to concentrate their natural sweetness. They're equally at home in soups, pickles, or as a side vegetable. The edible greens, though not extensively discussed in available sources, are a bonus harvest when thinning seedlings or at maturity.
Sow seeds indoors in a cold frame or indoors in early spring, approximately 5 to 6 weeks before transplanting out after heavy frosts become infrequent. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, placing 2 to 3 seeds per cell in 72- or 128-cell flats, or sow 3 to 4 seeds per inch in rows.
Transplant out after heavy frosts become infrequent, spacing seedlings 3 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Note that transplanted beets may not be as uniform as direct-seeded ones, and taproots can tangle—gently pull the root while holding back the rest of the plant to avoid damage. Transplanting does bring earlier harvests, which is valuable if direct seeding has been delayed by poor weather.
Chioggia Guardsmark reaches full maturity in 55 days from seed. Harvest when roots are at your desired size, typically 2 to 3 inches in diameter for optimal tenderness and flavor. For fresh market use, wash bunches and store up to 10 days at 32°F (0°C) with 95% relative humidity. If planning winter storage, cut off the tops, wash the roots, and store at 32°F (0°C) with 95% humidity, where they'll keep up to 6 months.
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