Beet "seeds" are actually unique multi-germ clusters, formed by multiple flowers fusing together.
Unlike many other garden seeds, what we commonly call a beet "seed" isn't a single seed at all. It's a dried fruit containing multiple seeds. Here's a breakdown of how they are made:
- Flowering: Beet plants, being biennials, typically flower in their second year of growth.
- Flower Clusters: Beet flowers are tiny and grow in clusters along the stem.
- Fusion: The petals of these flowers fuse together as they develop.
- Multi-Germ Formation: This fusion creates a hard, lumpy structure containing several (usually 2-5) individual seeds. This structure is what we refer to as a "seed." Because it contains multiple seeds, it is called a multi-germ.
Because of this multi-germ nature, planting one beet "seed" can result in multiple beet seedlings sprouting close together. This is why thinning beet seedlings is a common practice in gardening.
