Touchstone Gold

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sunlit and sweet, Touchstone Gold beets emerge in just about 50 days with a mellow, honeyed flavor and a tender, fine-grained bite.

The roots form attractive, smooth globes in warm golden tones, holding their color beautifully for roasting, steaming, and fresh slicing, as well as vibrant pickles and golden-hued sauces. A standout for gardeners who want both beauty in the bed and a naturally mellow sweetness on the table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Taproot

Botanical illustration of Touchstone Gold

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Touchstone Gold 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 21st – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 14th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 4th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 8th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 4th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 2nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 27th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 23rd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 20th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 14th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 9th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 30th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 21st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 12th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 31st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 20th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Taproot
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Touchstone Gold’s standout is its honeyed sweetness and fine, tender texture—no bite-y earthiness, so it eats cleanly even when lightly cooked. Roast or steam it and it stays silky and intact; pickle it for crisp contrast or puree it into a golden sauce that clings instead of staining everything red.

Best Uses

roasting until edges caramelize—great for slices that keep their structure
steaming and serving warm with a slick of brown butter or olive oil and flaky salt
quick pickling for snappy, golden pickles
blending into a silky golden beet sauce or puree for meats and grains

Flavor Profile

mellow, honeyed sweetness tender, fine-grained bite sweet-root earthiness without harshness bright, golden color that stays attractive

Kitchen Pairings

feta goat cheese brown butter caramelized walnuts horseradish citrus (lemon or orange)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my beets (Beta vulgaris) turning dark or getting leaf spots, and what can I do?

Beet growers commonly see Cercospora leaf spot, which starts as small brown spots with lighter centers and can spread fast in humid weather. Remove badly infected leaves, improve airflow (thin plants to about 3–4 in apart), and water at the soil line instead of wetting foliage. If the problem persists, spray with a labeled fungicide appropriate for edible roots/leafy beet (follow the product’s pre-harvest interval).

How often should I water beets during their main growing phase, and what soil moisture should I keep?

From sprouting through bulking (about weeks 3–7), keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for roughly 1 in of water per week, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Water deeply when the top 1 in of soil dries out, because uneven moisture can lead to small, woody roots or cracking. Avoid frequent light sprinkling that leaves the root zone dry between irrigations.

How can I tell when Touchstone Gold beets are ready to harvest?

Harvest when roots are about 1.5–3 in wide (often around 50 days from sowing for this type), when they’re still tender rather than oversized. Gently lift one beet to check size; if the root has filled out, harvest the rest soon to prevent toughening. Cut the tops off after harvesting, leaving about 1 in of stem to reduce bleeding and storage loss.