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'Chioggia' Beets

Sub-Category:	Round Red

Sub-Category 2:
Description:	Heirloom. Early, flattish-round beet with light red skin and concentric pink and white rings inside. Tops are green with pink-striped stems. About 55 days to maturity. Also known as 'Candystripe,' 'Bassano' and 'Barbietola de Chioggia'.
Days To Maturity:	55
Seed Sources:	Seed Savers Exchange - updated in 2016 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - updated in 2016 Johnny's Selected Seeds - updated in 2016 Underwood Gardens - updated in 2016 BBBseed - updated in 2016 Lake Valley Seed - updated in 2016

Rating Summary

Overall: (3.6 Stars) Taste: (3.6 Stars) Yield: (3.6 Stars) Ease/Reliability: (3.8 Stars)

Reviews

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Number of Reviews: 36

KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 10/27/2017 by CCE Nassau County NY - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Nassau, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Planted seeds on May 16. Grew well.. The size of the beets varied greatly - we think this was because the plants weren\'t thinned out so they grew too close together.

Reviewed on 10/18/2017 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Not as productive as other beets. Pretty to look at, nice flavor.

Reviewed on 10/12/2017 by Cutler Botanic Garden - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Broome, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Planted seed 4/25/17, harvested 8/8/17. Small size, little or no cracking.

Reviewed on 10/05/2017 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
The Beet \'Chioggia\' grew and went to seed earlier than normal due to our wet weather early in the season.

Reviewed on 07/22/2015 by JMac62 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Lake, Illinois, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Very easy to grow beet. Did very well in my full sun garden, and even did fairly well in a raised bed under a large honey locust tree with dappled shade for part of the day. The beets under the tree took longer to mature, and did not get as large, but still did fine. Definitely not as large as other beet varieties, even in my full sun garden. The largest grew to baseball size. The color is great, very nice rings of pink and white. The taste, however, is not very good. I passed out many of these to coworkers along with Early Wonder, and everyone made a point to tell me that they did not particularly care for the Chioggia beets. I definitely preferred other beets to these.

Reviewed on 01/23/2015 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
great flavor

Reviewed on 01/14/2015 by McKee - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cortland, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
was not productive

Reviewed on 01/13/2015 by CCE Rockland - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Rockland, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
sown May 5, slow to germinate, small beets but still tasty, final harvest in the beginning of November

Reviewed on 01/05/2015 by Cutler Botanic Garden - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Broome, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Germinated and grew well.

Reviewed on 11/21/2014 by volunteerschuyler - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schuyler, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
chiogga was not as productive as the other beet varieties in 2014

Reviewed on 08/06/2014 by dmk - A novice gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schenectady, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Nice yield.

Reviewed on 12/20/2013 by Roger1963 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Schuyler, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Very pretty when cut open, mild flavor when eaten. great in salad. Again poor germination in the row so we did not get many.

Reviewed on 11/25/2013 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Doesn't germinate really good.

Reviewed on 10/30/2012 by Chautauqua CCE - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chautauqua, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Easy to grow early variety. Mild flavor...lost it\'s stripes when cooked.

Reviewed on 10/28/2012 by CCE Oneida County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Oneida, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Very interesting when sliced with its red and white circles. If picked early can be used in a salad for color. However, does loose color when cooked. Easy to grow.

Reviewed on 10/22/2012 by nmeohen1 - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Cortland, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Reviewed on 10/19/2012 by CCE Seneca County - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Seneca, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
These beets did not produce as well or \"look\" as tasty as the other varieties we grew (Early Wonder and Detroit Dark Red), but they had a wonderful flavor.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 10/02/2012 by LouLou - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Wayne, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
This beet grew well and had good flavor. Held well in the garden without getting woody.

Reviewed on 09/25/2012 by Debbie L - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Orange, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Very easy to grow. Beet is very pretty to look at. I enjoyed the milder beet flavor of this variety.

Reviewed on 02/20/2011 by macinator - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Trumbull, Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
OK fellow organic gardeners, this is an heirloom. Heirlooms need fertile soil amended with compost and manure to produce a favorable crop. Add some kelp meal and bone meal, too. Chioggas are fabulous tasting beets, less earthy and Oh so sweet. My daughter and I love them. If you are a bit squeamish about the pastel color, throw in a red beet and voila! red colored beets. I grow these every year along with Merlin.

Reviewed on 12/15/2010 by Earthwalker - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Tioga, New York, United States Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
These beets usually grow dependably large beets but the seed supplier seems to be sending seeds that grow beets that are less and less red every season. This summer, Chioggia grew lots of white or mostly white beets.

Reviewed on 05/14/2009 by VT gardener - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Chittenden, Vermont, United States Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
I got huge beets softball size+! Grew better for me than than detriot red. However I love beets and these I would consider "beet lite" not a lot of flavor. Rings were pretty but I want a beet ....... meh

Reviewed on 01/07/2009 by Evilsunflower - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Washington, New York, United States Frost Free Season: Soil Texture: Garden Size: Sun Exposure:
Not nearly as tasty as the Detroit Dark Reds growing next to them, but not bad. They were delicious when harvested the size of a dime and eaten raw in salad (they looked really cool too). The greens were worthless, the rabbits wouldn't even eat them.

Reviewed on 07/17/2008 by CvilleGardener - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Charlottesville, Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Beets are sometimes a challenge in my garden's clay soil, but I liked this variety; I though it produced bigger, earlier roots than 'Early Wonder Tall Top'. Doesn't bleed, which is a great advantage for cooking, but still very tasty, delicate beet flavor. Not super-productive (about 3 pounds from 10 row feet), but I would grow it again.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 04/23/2007 by Lila - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	British Columbia, Canada Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Really great to look at, but picky to grow and not flavourful at all. I'll skip these this year. Probably a great variety for kids to grow due to the novelty.

Reviewed on 12/12/2006 by starwoodfarm - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Baker, Oregon, United States Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
They are wonderful, but darn it, they want to be babied, and I just don't have time for that nonsense. :-)

Reviewed on 11/15/2006 by dgsf - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	San Francisco, California, United States Frost Free Season: More than 203 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Easy to grow, but not worth the trouble. Very bland. Tasted more like turnips.

Reviewed on 09/21/2006 by zoebisch01 - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Centre, Pennsylvania, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
These have been the most trouble free beets I have grown to date. They produce sweet beets that are very good. They grew very quickly as well. Not overpoweringly sweet, which some may not like, but they are definitely sweet. They grow very uniformly to just under baseball size. If you are looking for lots of greens, however these are not the beet to grow. Foliage is small compared to other varieties (hence my '3' rating for yield), but this is a plus for biointensive methods. The color will bleed when boiled, although they lack the deep blood red color to begin with. They are a pretty target/ringed beet when sliced crossways.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 07/22/2006 by Nancy Strasser - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Pulaski, Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Not a very tasty beet. Color bleeds when cooked, so the beet looks white.

Reviewed on 05/23/2006 by Rudi - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Washington, Rhode Island, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Great tasting; makes nice appearance;

Reviewed on 04/16/2006 by cardshooter - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	West Virginia, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Our favorite beet! Good germination, good sweet flavor. Does not get woody like the red beets do. We like to cook a couple of red beets with the Chioggias just to add red color. And the tops make mild greens that are every bit as flavorable and good as spinach.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 03/09/2006 by Lillith - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Apache, Arizona, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Sand Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
My taste rating is for the greens more than the beets themselves. These are really pretty roots, but they lose their color when we cook or can them and just aren't as beet tasting as other varieties we grow. They are also harder to peel with a thin skin. White beets aren't very appetizing on my plate. There are a lot of better beets out there.

1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.

Reviewed on 08/27/2005 by Nancy B - An intermediate gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Illinois, United States Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Beautiful but sometimes hard to grow large. Very tasty and greens are great too.

Reviewed on 01/25/2005 by Deb - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ohio, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Clay Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Good beet flavor without a lot of "bleeding". Good germination in a variety of conditions. Beets don't get huge and stay tender.

Reviewed on 10/10/2004 by SusanS - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ulster, New York, United States Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days Soil Texture: Loam Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day
Does poorly in rainy or drought conditions.

Reviewed on 09/13/2004 by Catskills - An experienced gardener
Overall Taste Yield Ease	Ulster, New York, United States Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days Soil Texture: Not Sure Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40') Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day
Our favorite beet. Beautiful and delicious. Also very dependable.

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