Chioggia Guardsman

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweet, tender roots open to a mesmerizing candy-cane cross-section—crisp concentric rings of creamy white and candy-striped red that look almost too beautiful to plant.

Chioggia Guardsman beets develop a deep, earthy sweetness with a fine, satiny texture that stays pleasantly tender at harvest, making them a standout for showy presentations. Grow for fresh slicing, vibrant roasting, and striking pickled color that holds its charm from garden to jar.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Chioggia Guardsman

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Chioggia Guardsman Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This Chioggia type is built for the slice: tender, satiny flesh and an earthy-sweet core that doesn’t turn grainy, so the candy-ring cross-section stays crisp on the plate. Roast or pickle it and the stripes keep their swagger—its sweetness loves salty, tangy partners like cheese and citrus.

Best Uses

thin rounds or matchsticks for high-impact salads—those rings stay photo-ready
hot roasting until sweet and caramelized, then sliced to reveal the candy stripes
quick-pickles where the color reads bold and the texture stays pleasantly snappy
grating raw into a citrusy slaw for a vivid, crunchy contrast

Flavor Profile

deep earthy sweetness finely satiny, tender bite clean, crisp beet flavor with a bright finish

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese feta balsamic vinegar walnuts orange

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a common beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) pest or disease problem, and how can I address it?

Leaf spot and Cercospora infections are common on beet greens, appearing as small brown to purple spots that spread on older leaves. Remove badly affected leaves, avoid overhead watering, and improve airflow between plants; if it’s severe, treat with a copper-based fungicide labeled for vegetables and follow the label timing. Watch for aphids on tender growth—spray plants with a strong water jet or use insecticidal soap for control.

How often should I water Chioggia Guardsman beets during peak growth?

During the main root-filling phase (roughly mid-season to harvest), keep soil consistently evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t let the root zone fully dry out, which can cause tough, woody roots. Mulch helps maintain steady moisture while beets are swelling.

How do I tell when Chioggia Guardsman beets are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 55 days when roots are about 1.5–3 inches (4–7.5 cm) across for best sweetness and tenderness. You can judge readiness by gently lifting or checking the root shoulders at the soil surface—when they look well-filled and round, it’s time. Pull beets promptly once they reach size, because prolonged time in the ground can lead to tougher texture and more fibrous roots.