# Creating a Beet Grex 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Adaptation Projects\ **Tags:** grex, beetroot\ **Created:** [January 15, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491 "2026-01-15T13:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/1 "2026-01-15T13:45:13Z")
Let’s use this thread for collecting varieties for a wonderfully diverse beet grex in 2026. I can copy all the variety names you find, so we have a list below. I can volunteer to receive the seed packets. I will then mix them all together and send out the mixes to the contributors, so everyone benefits from the effort. I will put a dot ( **·** ) if someone plans on getting it, **o** if someone already bought it and an **x** when it is sent to me and put into the mix. | | Malte | Saskia | Jack | Jacek | Tomas | Christopher | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Red** | | | | | | | | Alexis | | | | · | | | | Alvro Mono | | | x | | | | | Bernstein | | | | x | | | | Betina | | | | x | | | | Boldor | | x | | | | | | Bolivar | | | x | | | | | Boltardy/Kogel 2/Bikores | | x | x | | | | | Bona | | | | x | | | | Bull’s Blood | | x | | | | | | (Red) Crapaudine/Rouge Ecorce au Crapaudine | | x | | | | x | | Cylindra | x | | x | | | | | Czerwona Kula | | | | · | | | | Detroit | x | | x | | | o | | Detroit 2 (Globe) | | | x | | | | | Deventer Zwartblad | | | | | | | | (Early) Crosby’s Egyptian | | x | | | | | | Early Turnip-Rooted Egyptian (possibly Egyptian Flatround) | | | x | | | | | Early Wonder Top | x | | | | | | | D’Egypte (possibly Egyptian Flatround) | | | | · | | | | Egyptian Flatround | x | x | | | | | | Erfurter Lange | | | | x | | | | Jannis | x | | | | | | | Foniro | x | | | | | | | Formanova | | | x | | | | | Forono | | x | | | | | | Gesche (low geosmin) | x | | | x | | | | Karkulka | | | x | | | | | Kornett | | | | | | x | | MacGregor’s Favourite | | x | | | | | | Marner Halanga | | | | x | | | | Moneta | | x | | | | | | Monorubra | | | | · | | | | Mulatka | | | x | | | | | Okrągły Ciemnoczerwony | | | | x | | x | | Opolski | | | | x | | x | | Nochowski | | | | x | | | | Regulski Cylinder | | | | x | | | | Renova | | | | x | | x | | Robuschka | x | | | | | | | Red Mammoth | | | | | | x | | Red Toad | | | x | | | | | Rywal | | | | x | | | | Sanguina | | | x | | | | | Solist/Moulin Rouge | | x | | | x | | | Wiener Lange Schwarze | | | | x | | | | **Yellow** | | | | | | | | Boldor | | · | | | | | | Chioggia (Golden Orange) | | | x | | | | | Flaming Barrel (low geosman) | | | x | | | | | Golden Burpee | x | | x | | | | | Golden Detroit | | x | x | | | | | Golden Eye | | | x | | | x | | Jaune de Vauriac | | | | x | | | | Touchstone Gold (low geosmin) | | | x | | | | | Wintersonne | x | | x | | | | | Yellow Mangel | | | | | | x | | **White** | | | | | | | | Schneewittchen | x | | | | | | | Albina Vereduna (Blankoma, Albino) | x | · | x | | | | | Avalanche | | x | | | | | | **Striped** | | | | | | | | Tondo de Chioggia | x | x | | | | | | Chioggia Guardsmark/Anello | | x | | | | | | **Sugar beet** | | | | | | | | Nesvizhskaya | x | | | | | | | **Pink** | | | | | | | | Lutz Winter Keeper (syn. Saladleaf, Greenleaf) | | x | | x | | x | ### What is this? This project is part of the attempt in the European community to put focus on beetroot. Read more and join that effort here: [BEET - 2026 European Focus Crops](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/beet-2026-european-focus-crops/4390) ---
**Author:** ![Saskia](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/saskia/32/13817_2.png) [@Saskia](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Saskia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/2 "2026-01-15T14:29:38Z")
I already have (quite some seeds left of): - Forono (Vreeken) - MacGregor’s Favourite (Vreeken) - Lutz Green Leaf/Winter Keeper (Vreeken) - Tonda di Chioggia (Kweek) And could buy at Vreeken (currently available according to their website): - (Red) Crapaudine/Rouge Ecorce au Crapaudine - Moneta - Solist/Moulin Rouge - Egyptian Flatround - Chioggia Guardsmark/Anello - Albina Vereduna/Albino/Blankoma - Avalanche - Boltardy/Kogel 2/Bikores - Bull’s Blood - Golden Detroit - Boldor - Deventer Zwartblad - (Early) Crosby’s Egyptian ---
**Author:** ![jackpeppiatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@jackpeppiatt](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/jackpeppiatt)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/3 "2026-01-15T14:49:17Z")
I can order the following from UK suppliers (an ‘x’ indicated I already ordered from Real Seeds): Red: - Sanguina x - Mulatka x - Early Turnip-Rooted Egyptian x - Karkulka x - Formanova x - Boltardy - Detroit - Cylindra - Bolivar - Alvro Mono - Red Toad Yellow: - Burpees Golden x - Golden Detroit x - Touchstone Gold x - Chioggia (Golden Orange) x - Flaming Barrel - Wintersonne - Golden Eye White: - Albino x There is some overlap of the ones I’ haven’t ordered yet with the ones listed above. How should we divide the purchasing? ---
**Author:** ![marcela\_v](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/marcela_v/32/4408_2.png) [@marcela\_v](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/marcela_v)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2026, 10:14pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/4 "2026-01-15T22:14:32Z")
Thank you for this summary… I was thinking some time ago to start searching for varieties but then failed due to lack of time. I will check them out and see what I could get. I already have some seeds I got througj exchanges last year, but I have no idea what it is 🙂 I will get back to this post when I check out what to order 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stephane\_rave](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/stephane_rave/32/8363_2.png) [@stephane\_rave](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/stephane_rave)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 7:53am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/5 "2026-01-16T07:53:12Z")
I have a full jar of Early Wonder Top seeds collected in 2024 from my garden. For the person in charge of centralizing them, I can send some if you are interested 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 10:06am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/6 "2026-01-16T10:06:28Z")
I updated the top post with a table that summarizes the work so far. Please keep it coming and pitch in with ideas. This could become a pretty monstreous grex. @jackpeppiatt raised a good question - how should we divide the purchasing when there are overlaps? My initial thought is whatever is easy. With the goal in mind that we get as much diversity as possible. Some varieties might have been grown different places so it doesn’t hurt to get more accessions. But higher priority are other varieties. Perhaps we can use our common sense. I also noted down some of the varieties that have low geosmin (the compound that gives beets their earthy flavor). I am considering making a separate flock with low geosmin types. I would have to make that pool at the seed stage, because you can’t see it on the root like the color. So if you find varieties you know are low in geosmin, please note it. ---
**Author:** ![stephane\_rave](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/stephane_rave/32/8363_2.png) [@stephane\_rave](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/stephane_rave)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 11:55am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/7 "2026-01-16T11:55:48Z")
> [@malterod](#): > > So if you find varieties you know are low in geosmin, please note it Early Wonder Top 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tomas](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/tomas/32/13318_2.png) [@Tomas](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Tomas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/8 "2026-01-16T17:37:19Z")
Hi, Moulin Rouge - my seeds stored in freezer since 2023, ca. 500g. ---
**Author:** ![Jacek](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/jacek/32/3130_2.png) [@Jacek](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Jacek)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 9:56am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/9 "2026-01-19T09:56:26Z")
From VEN (German seed savers) I can get the following: Bernstein Erfurter Lange Gesche Jaune de Vauriac Lutz Winterkeeper Marner Halanga Wiener Lange Schwarze From PNOS (Polish commercial varieties) some of these: Alexis Bona Betina Czerwona Kula D’Egypte Nochowski Monorubra Opolski Okrągły Ciemnoczerwony Regulski Cylinder Renova Rywal We will end up with more varieties in the grex than I have space for individual plants in my garden. I suggest we use a similar amount of seed per variety/accession in the grex as not to swamp it with one variety. The PNOS seeds are available in 5 g, 10 g, 20 g packets. ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/10 "2026-01-20T19:07:45Z")
I’ve updated the table with @Jacek’s additions. As a way to balance the mix, I can put similar amount of each to maximize the different varieties people get in their grow outs. And for the surplus seed make a separate mix for those who have extra space, unless someone comes up with a better idea. Really looking forward to make this happen! Thank you everyone who’s announced which seed their planning on getting so far. Just write me a PM for an address to send it to and please attach your own address too, so I know where to send the final mix. ---
**Author:** ![Anita](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/anita/32/17975_2.png) [@Anita](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Anita)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 8:23am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/11 "2026-01-24T08:23:45Z")
Oh, there’s already so many varieties on the list! I’m going through my usual seed suppliers (Bingenheimer, Sativa, Arche Noah) but I don’t think I will be able to add more than 1 or 2 new varieties. But a lot of isn’t bought yet, right? Because in order to distribute the weight on more shoulders I could order some that’s already on the list? Keeping shipping costs in mind I could do (Sativa): - Bulls Blood - Robuschka - Angela (not on List?) - Bikores Or (Arche Noah, but I think they sell the surplus from the Verein für Nutzpflanzen Vielfalt?): - Bernstein - Dwergina (Not in the List?) - Erfurter Lange Or (Borago): - Detroit dark red - Robuschka - Burpees Golden - Wintersonne But since some of you seem to have really good connections I’m also happy to just pitch in if someone wants to make a big order Have a nice weekend y’all! ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/12 "2026-01-24T21:32:42Z")
I’m happy you want to contribute too Anita! Yes, there’s a lot of variety on the table already. I join you on wanting to distribute the weight - it doesn’t have to be overly thought-through, but just using our common sense. Those varieties that have already been bought are indicated on the table with **o** while those that are only planned are **·** so you go ahead and order some that haven’t been ordered yet and I will update the table. Then that frees up resources for other people in the group to pick others. ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/13 "2026-01-28T13:00:52Z")
I’ve ordered a number of varieties from Kokopelli and Bingenheimer (updated table). People are starting to order and ask me for an address - just send me a PM. And remember to include your own address. I will create the mixes when they have all arrived and send out packages. ---
**Author:** ![Christopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Christopher](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Christopher)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/14 "2026-01-28T16:35:00Z")
I already have seeds of the following varieties: Lutz Green Leaf Okragly Ciemnoczerwony Red Mammoth Yellow Mangel Opolski Cylindra Detroit Dark Red I also have seeds from some standard varieties from the large seed coprorations and from my own seed growing (original variety forgotten). They are of a variable numbers of years old. So, maybe not interesting? ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/15 "2026-01-28T17:27:30Z")
Any resourceful person in here who can try to get some of the varieties across the Atlantic? (listed in the top post) I’m also curious if we could get more genetic diversity from Asia. Consider that one single variety from a geographically very different region than ours is likely to have more genetic diversity than ten of the most common varieties from Europe. Again, there’s very little breeding work done on beets, so you can assume that existing varieties have cross-pollinated very little between regions. ---
**Author:** ![Tomas](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/tomas/32/13318_2.png) [@Tomas](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Tomas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 11:26am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/16 "2026-02-02T11:26:14Z")
Today I sent ca. double the required amount of Moulin Rouge, so if someone wants more than usual amount, just ask Malte to put extra seeds to your packages. ---
**Author:** ![marcela\_v](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/marcela_v/32/4408_2.png) [@marcela\_v](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/marcela_v)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/17 "2026-02-04T13:50:13Z")
I’ve been quite busy to think about the beetroot grex, sorry for not participating. I will just sow what I already have (no idea which varieties anymore) and maybe order several packs of new genetics. I am overwhelmed with all kinds of activities 🙂 If anyone will have some extra seeds, please send me some. I have around 20 plants in the ground from last year that overwintered so I am confident there will be many beets seeds in summer, but I will start with a new bed of beetroot to increase the number of crosses, and seeds for the community. I have quite a big surface to play with, so I am open to receive seeds, and I would be happy to send something in return without too much thinking, because I am out of memory capacity at the moment 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/18 "2026-02-04T15:17:13Z")
I propose anyone who’s taking part in the beetroot focus this year can receive the beetroot-mix, if they’re willing to grow it out to cross it into a grex. Whether you send varieties to the mix or not. You need to send me your address though. I think we will have enough seed if everyone who said they’ll send me varieties will do it. ---
**Author:** ![Anita](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/anita/32/17975_2.png) [@Anita](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Anita)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/19 "2026-02-10T13:46:12Z")
Hi, I just ordered: Rote Kugel 2 (= Storuman) Monika Bernstein Boltardy and will send them as soon as they arrive 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![malterod](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/malterod/32/1391_2.png) [@malterod](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/malterod)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491/20 "2026-02-10T15:16:37Z")
For participants ordering varieties for the grex, you can also send them directory to me to save some postage costs. Just PM me for the adress. [Next page](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/creating-a-beet-grex-2026/4491.md?page=2)