Harvest Type:  Continuous or single

Transplant/Direct Sow:  Direct sow or transplant

When to Plant:  2-3 weeks before the last frost date for spring planting or 6-8 weeks before the fall's first frost date.

Days to Germinate:  5-8 days

Days to Maturity:  7-8 weeks

Planting Depth:  ½" deep

Germination Temp:  50 - 80°F

Seed Spacing:  1-2” apart

Rows:  1’ apart

Light:  Full sun to partial shade

Soil pH:  6.5 -7.0 pH

Water:  1” of water per week. Keep the soil moist but allow the top layer to dry between waterings.

Soil Temperature:  40°F for cold varieties and 45°F for others.

Fertilizer:  10-10-10 or 12-10-10 N-P-K ratio.

Rotation:  Root vegetable.  Rotate annually with heavy feeders.

Harvest Type

Generally, beets are harvested in small batches and consumed as needed. You can harvest them all at once for canning or pickling.

TIP: Successive planting will keep you in beets all year long.

Transplant / Direct Sow

Transplant or direct sow - Beets are one of the few root vegetables that handle transplanting. You can direct sow seeds too.

When to Plant:

For indoor planting, start seeds in a tray 4-5 weeks before the last frost date. For outdoor sowing, plant seeds when the ambient temperature is around 50°F, and the soil temperature is around 40-45°F.

TIP: Some beets are cold-hardy, which means you can plant them sooner. Other varieties require slightly warmer soil temperatures.

Days to germinate

5-8 days

Days to maturity

It takes about 7-8 weeks for beet plants to mature. You can start to snip the tops of leaves when the plants are 8 inches tall. Don't overcut as the roots need those leaves to grow.

Planting Depth

Plant 1/2 inch deep.

Germination Temperature Range

Soil temperature for good germination for beets occurs above 40°F and optimally at 45°F.

Spacing Between Plants

3" between plants allows for nicely formed beetroots. You can squeeze them into 2" spaces for smaller beetroots.

Growing conditions

Most varieties of beets like slightly acidic soil in the 6.5-7.0 range. Prep the ground with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer before direct sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings. Beets have a 1-foot-long tap root, so ensure that you till the soil to at least one foot.

Companion Plants

Beets, mustards, and beans do not get along—plant with Swiss chard, lettuce, radish, and spinach.

Rotation

Crop rotation is not necessary, but it can help with a successful beet yield. It takes only 7-8 weeks for a beet crop to mature, so instead of rating, amend the soil with nitrogen-rich fertilizer or compost before planting seeds.

TIP: Plant a cover crop or legumes where you last planted beets to revive the soil.

Anticipated yields

Plan your garden yield at 15-30 plants per person, and twice that amount if you plan to pickle or can beets.