Chioggia beets, also known as candy stripe or bull's eye beets, are an Italian heirloom variety producing small to medium globe-shaped roots averaging 2-3 inches in diameter (slightly flattened), with semi-rough burgundy to pinkish-red skin and broad green leaves with crisp red stems. When sliced, the interior reveals stunning concentric rings of bright red (or fuchsia) and white, creating a peppermint-like candy-stripe pattern that's visually striking and unique among beets. The flavor is mild, sweet, and slightly peppery or earthy—less intense than traditional red beets, with a tender, crunchy texture raw that becomes softer and more delicate when cooked (note that the stripes may fade somewhat with boiling but hold better when roasted or steamed). These beets are wonderful roasted to bring out sweetness, sliced raw into vibrant salads for color and crunch, pickled for tangy snacks, steamed or sautéed as a side, or added to soups and grain bowls—the leaves (greens) are also edible and similar to young Swiss chard for sautéing or salads. This variety is a fantastic choice for Utah because it's an early-maturing, cool-season crop that thrives in our variable springs and falls with full sun and well-drained soil, it's cold-tolerant for extended planting windows, and it's reliably recommended by USU Extension as a productive heirloom suited to northern Utah conditions. 75 seeds per packet.
