Beets are a cold-weather crop that I look forward to growing in both spring and fall. Not only are beets a hearty root vegetable, but the tops are edible as well. They also grow quite fast, so you can enjoy beets before many other crops. If you want to grow beets in your garden, here’s everything you need to know.
You can also get a copy of my “How Do I Grow Beets?” sheet for free and keep it with you for future use.
The garden beet, also known as the table beet, red beet, or just plain beet, is a type of Beta vulgaris. This means that it is the same species as the sugar beet and Swiss chard. People in the US and Canada call both the plant and the taproot “beet.” People in the UK, on the other hand, call the taproot “beetroot.” ”.
Beets can be roasted, boiled, grilled, baked or pickled. Slice them, grate them, cut them into wedges, or chop them like French fries. You can put beets on top of a specialty pizza or in a salad. They are also a delicious appetizer or side dish when served alone or with goat cheese. And don’t forget borscht, the Ukrainian beet soup. Plus the beet tops, aka beet greens, can be sautéed or added to soup.
Different types of beets are different shades of red, and some are now yellow or white on the inside. You can have quite the rainbow in your garden and on your plate.
Beetroot is a nutritious and delicious root vegetable that can be grown easily in home gardens. When grown from seed, beetroots take between 50-70 days to reach maturity and be ready for harvesting. However, the exact time depends on several factors like variety, time of sowing, soil conditions, and climate.
In this comprehensive growing guide, we will look at:
- Ideal conditions for growing beetroot
- How to sow beet seeds
- Days to maturity for different beet varieties
- Tips for quick beetroot growth
- Signs that beetroots are ready to harvest
Ideal Conditions for Growing Beetroot
Beetroot thrives in cool weather and performs best when daytime temperatures are in the 60s or 70s F. Temperatures above 80 F can cause poor germination, slow growth, and low yields.
The vegetable prefers full sun exposure (at least 6 hours per day) and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0 Heavy clay soils often impede proper beetroot development.
Consistent moisture is important especially during germination and early growth. Supply 1-2 inches of water per week if rainfall is inadequate. Excessive heat and drought stress can cause slow growth and woody, fibrous roots.
How to Sow Beet Seeds
Beetroot can be grown from early spring to early summer and again from late summer to late fall Avoid midsummer heat
Direct sow seeds in the garden 1/2 inch deep and 1-2 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 3-6 inches between plants after they sprout.
For a continuous harvest, make small, successive sowings every 2-3 weeks.
You can also start beet seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant seedlings to the garden when they have 2-3 true leaves.
Days to Maturity for Beet Varieties
Days to maturity ranges from 50-75 days depending on variety. Here are some popular options and their growth timeline:
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Early Wonder (48 days) – quick-growing heirloom; round red roots
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Detroit Dark Red (60 days) – globe-shaped red roots with sweet, deep color
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Touchstone Gold (55 days) – golden yellow; sweeter taste
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Bull’s Blood (60 days) – red and white striped roots
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Chioggia (60 days) – red and white rings inside; mild flavor
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Cylindra (60 days) – long, cylindrical red roots; greens also edible
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Blankoma White (75 days) – white flesh; greens have red veins
In general, heirloom and open-pollinated varieties take a little longer than hybrids.
Tips for Quick Beetroot Growth
Here are some tips to help your beetroots size up quickly:
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Prepare soil well with compost and nutrients before planting
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Use row covers at seeding to retain warmth and moisture
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Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged
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Fertilize 4-6 weeks after sowing using a balanced organic fertilizer
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Thin properly to avoid overcrowding which slows growth
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Use mulch to maintain soil moisture and reduce weeds
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Avoid excessive heat by planting at appropriate times
Signs Beetroots are Ready to Harvest
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Roots have reached desired size for variety (1-3 inches diameter)
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Shoulders protrude above soil surface
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Skin has hardened and roots resist piercing when squeezed
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Tops look healthy and vigorous
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Days to maturity has been reached for variety
The exact day count varies, but most beetroots are ready to pull in 7-10 weeks after sowing seeds. Check your variety’s maturation timeframe and monitor root size.
For the sweetest flavor, harvest when beets are young and tender. Larger, overgrown roots tend to be woody and fibrous. The greens are also best when plants are young.
Where, When & How to Plant Beets
To make the best use of the space I have, I plant beets around the edges of my leafy greens beds. If you want to grow an abundance of beets, you can dedicate even more space to the crop. Planting beets close together is fine, but don’t pack them in too tightly or they won’t grow as big as they could.
Choose a planting location with well-drained soil that has a pH between 6. 5 and 6. 8. Amend the soil prior to planting time with compost to improve its tilth and fertility. Beets also require full sun, which is a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Beets enjoy warm days and cool nights. You can grow beets almost anywhere in the US and Canada as long as you plant them at the right time. They do better in milder climates. If you use succession planting, you can try more than once in the same year to get the timing right.
For a fall crop, direct sow beet seeds 10 to 12 weeks before the first frost. You can continue with weekly succession plantings until four weeks before the frost date. The seeds will germinate in about five days. In spring, sow three weeks before the last frost, or as soon as the soil can be worked. Beets can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40° though it may take longer than five days. Before planting, soak beet seeds for an hour or overnight in warm (not hot!) water to help them sprout faster. Continue spring succession plantings until the air temperature reaches 80°.
Beet seeds are rather large, and that’s because they are multigerms. Each one is actually a cluster that contains between two and five seeds. You don’t need to break the cluster apart, but you will need to thin the seedlings.
Sow a half-inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Once the seedlings sprout and reach a height of 3 to 4 inches, separate them so that each one stands alone. (Enjoy the thinned plants as beet greens. When the plants are 5 inches tall, cover them with 2 to 3 inches of light, organic mulch, like straw or shredded leaves. This will keep the soil moist and keep weeds away. It will also keep the beets from turning green, which is bad for flavor, because the mulch will block the sun from the tops. And as the organic mulch breaks down, it will improve the soil.
You can also start beet seeds indoors or in a greenhouse. This is a great option if your garden is short on space. Then when you harvest other crops, fill in the gaps with the seedlings that are ready to go. Use clean seed starting mix and put one seed cluster in each cell. When it’s time, thin the seedlings to one per cell. Warm the soil to between 60° and 85° with a seedling heat mat if you are growing indoors. This will help the seeds sprout faster. Use a grow light so the seedlings don’t stretch out in search of sun. When transplanting into the garden, take care not to disturb the roots.
Beet seeds are sold by the individual variety or as “rainbow” mixes. Changing the types of beets you grow will give your garden more color and allow you to harvest them at different times for beets that were planted at the same time. Staggered harvests are great for enjoying fresh beets for weeks on end.
Avalance is an open-pollinated white beet, inside and out, with green stems. It is an All-America Selections winner that matures in 55 days. The root diameter is 2 to 3 inches at maturity.
Boldor is a variety of golden beet. The 2-inch roots are brilliant yellow inside. The tops are green. Boldor is known for good germination and sweet flavor. It matures in 55 days.
Chioggia is an Italian heirloom beet with red and white circles inside. The 2-inch roots are round and semi-flat. The tops are green with streaks of purple on the stems. It’s ready to harvest in 65 days.
Early Wonder Tall Top is an open-pollinated variety that grows quickly and usually is ready to be picked in 45 days, though this can vary from plant to plant. It loves the cool soil of early spring. The deep red globes grow to be 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Its green leaves have purple stems and veins.
It is best to pick Red Ace at 3 to 4 inches because its roots are round and uniform, and it is a hybrid. It takes 55 days to grow and is ready to be picked. The bright red stems and green tops make great beet greens.
Ruby Queen is an open-pollinated beet with 3. 5-inch round roots that are deep red inside with pink rings. Sow thickly to enjoy more of the tasty beet greens after thinning. Matures in 65 days.
Subeto is an organic, smooth-skinned red beet that matures in 50 days. The stems are purple and the leaves are green. The round taproot is mature at 1. 5 inches.
Zeppo is a hybrid variety with round, uniform roots that are 2 inches across when they’re ready in 50 days. The deep red roots have a mild flavor.
Beets like moist but not soaked soil. Between rain and extra watering, an inch of water per week will be enough if your soil is organically rich and drains well. The taproots of beets grow tall and stick out of the ground. When you water them, be careful not to wash the soil away. To test if your beets require more water, use the finger test. If you stick your finger all the way into the ground and it comes out clean, it’s time to water. If the soil sticks to the tip of your finger, don’t water it yet and check again in a few days.
Your beets will do very well if you planted them in soil that has a lot of organic matter and compost added to it. For supplemental fertilizer, avoid high-nitrogen chemical fertilizers that will result in more leaf growth but smaller taproots. The leaves are important because they capture solar energy through photosynthesis and help the roots grow. If there is a lot of nitrogen, on the other hand, the leaves will get bigger than the roots.
Choose an organic granular or liquid fertilizer that is low in nitrogen or well balanced. Look at the NPK ratio. N stands for nitrogen, P for phosphorus, and K for potassium. The first number should be less than or about the same as the other two.
Fertilize for the first time when the beets sprout, and again a month later. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying fertilizer. More is not better and can even be detrimental.
Growing Beets, From Seed to Harvest
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