Slice open the pale orange spherical roots for sunshine golden flesh that has a delectable sweet taste, raw or cooked. The Touchstone Gold beet keeps its marvelous color during the cooking process so afterward it can shine bright on a dinner plate. Touchstone performs well in the garden and is notably more reliable than other golden type beets. 100 seeds PLANTING Beta vulgaris Germination: 5-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 50-85ºF. Soaking seed overnight aids in the germination. Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2” deep Starting Indoors: 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow 1-2 seeds per cell/pot. Thin to 1 seedling per cell/pot. Transplant outdoors when the first true leaves appear, 3” apart. Sowing Outdoors: Early spring with soil temperatures at least 50ºF. Sow 1-2” apart, thin when plants are 2-4” tall, 3-4” apart. Germination is slower at lower soil temperatures. How much does a packet plant: 15-20 foot single row Harvest: Begin picking at 1” for baby beets and up to 3” across for the most tender and best tasting. For best storage cut off the greens 2” above the top of the beet. Tips: Touchstone Gold Beet “seeds” are actually fruits that contain multiple seeds inside with several seedlings emerging from one seed. Use the thinned seedlings for beet greens or plant a heavily seeded row for baby beet greens. Beets need to grow rapidly and evenly by providing soil rich in organic matter and adequate moisture. Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest.
