Bassano Beet (pre 1840)

(aka Chioggia, Candy Stripe Beet).  A very old historic beet that was originally called Barbabietola di Bassano and was grown in Italy well before it was known in North America. In 1865 Fearing Burr included it in his book Field and Garden Vegetables of America. He stated that the Bassano beet was "An Italian variety, generally considered the earliest of garden beets, being from seven to ten days earlier than the early blood turnip rooted." It is documented as grown at the Red River Settlement in the mid 1800’s under the name Turnip Bassano, referring to its slightly flattened shape like a turnip. Apparently the original Bassano beet was slightly flatter and a duller red than the one that survives today, but otherwise are the same. The Bassano beet is also known as the Candy Stripe beet because of the alternating white and rose colored rings (like a bulls eye). This trait makes it a beautiful slicing beet. They are excellent if slightly steamed or baked and the young beets can be used in salads. A beautiful beet that should be more widely grown!

100 seeds per packet.