Packets are starting to arrive and I’m updating the table so you can see which are covered. It’s looking like we’re going to make a truly monstrous beet grex together. Great to work together on this so far!
Anyone else who still want to contribute, there is time to do it here in February.
I especially want to encourage anyone willing to seek out and get varieties with low geosmin. I will make a separate mix just with those varieties.
So far we have:
Gesche
Schneewittchen (syn. Rs-Rü-01.22)
Touchstone Gold
Flaming Barrel
Early Wonder Top (according to @stephane_rave - I can’t find any reference for this though. Do you have one or is it just from experience?)
Low geosmin varieties we don’t have (all American)
From personal experience, this beetroot is sweet without the unpleasant earthy taste that my taste buds dislike. Maybe it’s not related to the low geosmin content…but in any case, it’s delicious!
PS: I can’t seem to find the large jar of seeds I harvested last year, but if I manage to find it in time, I’ll send you some.
And it might not be related so high geosmin beets could just as well be the best. I’m still learning more about beet flavor with regards to geosmin content. One important study - referenced here - says bitterness is not really related to geosmin. Contradictory information! For the time being, I will collect them anyway.
I’d rather not get more seeds from UK sent this way. I had to pay a customs fee - not big, but relatively more expensive than ordering from the EU directly to my address.
You’re very welcome to take part in the project. I wonder if you or @jackpeppiatt could receive the package and send to each other - to minimize any potential customs fee the other way.
The last package from @Jacek just arrived today. That means all packages are in and I’ve begun creating the mix.
We have 53 different varieties. Some varieties we have several packages of from different distributors. I’ve aimed at adding 3-4 grams of each variety and when there were several packages, I took equal from each, treating them as different accessions of the same variety.
We now have 185 grams of a highly diverse beet mix. Good job!
I think there are probably between 10-15.000 seed clusters in that mix and each cluster contains 2-6 seed. So perhaps around 40-60.000 seeds. Plenty for anyone who wants to join the project.
Next action is that each of you say how many grams you want for sowing / how much space you got. I remember some of you only had a little space. I’ll then send that for you and any leftovers, we can add to the Serendipity Seed Swap as GTS 53 Variety Beet Mix 2026.
As a side quest, I’ve also made small mixes of low geosmin, high geosmin, low oxalic acid and mono-germ types. All those varieties have been included in the main mix as well - so these mixes are for people who are willing to grow out separate populations. Note how that necessitates some kind of isolation / bagging during flowering, as beet is wind-pollinated. I’m not sure how I will do this exactly, but I might let those populations go to flower at different growing sites, possibly planting in buckets in a greenhouse and bagging the flowers.
I can dedicate up to 100m2 for beets. I also put together some beets seeds I got through various exchanges, but I have no idea which variety they are - could be all red, so I will put them in different rows and then select in autumn for seeds next year, to have the most diverse mix.
I will be happy with whatever you send i am considering direct sowing
I am noting down how much you will sow. Easiest is to tell me how many grams you want.
Reminder that we are not selecting strongly this year. The goal is to grow out lots of different beet roots next year and let them cross so we get as many different genes into the grex we are creating.
