'Golden Grex' Beet

Beta vulgaris

Origin: Oregon, via Maine

Improvement status: Grex/Breeding material

Seeds per packet: ~120

Germination tested 11/2024: 82%

Life cycle: Biennial

A vigorous, delicious, and brightly colored gold beet. This population was selected from Fedco's golden breeding stock of Dr. Alan Kapular's triple cross of Yellow Intermediate, Crosby Purple Egyptian and Lutz Saladleaf. "Grex" is a term originally coined for orchid breeding that implies a constant reshuffling of traits in a highly diverse population of interbreeding varieties. Grexes are invaluable for plant breeders, but also for subsistence farmers who can rely on them to produce a resilient crop. Interior is a mix of white and golden rings, with the possibility for red and golden rings as well. The diversity of this population means it is ripe for further breeding and selection. Seed was grown for us by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Madison, Wisconsin, who call this their farm's "go-to" golden beet.

GROWING TIPS: Direct seed 1/2-3/4 inch deep after danger of last frost. Plants should end up 3-5 inches from each other. Row spacing could be 12-18 inches. It's more time and energy, but beets also transplant relatively well, so for example, if you have a situation with really bad weeds or you are notoriously bad at staying up on weeding, you could start seeds in flats and transplant to freshly prepared ground to get ahead.