Beet seeds are harvested from mature beet plants after they have bolted (sent up a flower stalk) and produced seed pods.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Allow Bolting: Beet plants are typically biennials, meaning they complete their life cycle in two years. To get seeds, you need to allow the plant to go through a second year. During this time, the beet plant will bolt – send up a tall flower stalk.
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Flowering and Seed Pod Formation: The flower stalk will produce clusters of small, greenish flowers. These flowers will then develop into seed pods.
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Seed Pod Maturation: The seed pods start as green clusters and, as they mature, they will turn brown and dry. This indicates that the seeds are ripening.
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Harvesting the Seed Pods: Once the seed pods are dry and brown, you can harvest them. You can break them off the stem or cut the entire stalk with the seed pods attached.
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Seed Extraction (Optional): While not always necessary, you can break apart the seed pods. Each "seed" is actually a cluster containing multiple seeds. You can plant these clusters as they are, or try to separate them (though this can be difficult).
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Drying and Storage: Allow the harvested seed pods to dry completely in a cool, dry place. Once dry, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark location until you are ready to plant them.
