Beets make great fall and winter crops! They can withstand frost and temperatures close to freezing, making them a great root veggie to grow in northern regions.
You may be most familiar with red beets, but beets come in a wide range of varieties, including yellow, white and striped.
Beet roots can be picked from the time they’re about the size of a golf ball to the size of a tennis ball. While seeing beets get really big is pretty cool, in most cases the larger the beets, the “woodier” they’ll be.
Where to Plant Beets
Make sure to select a planting location that receives full sun in order to get the best beets yield. In a perfect world your beets will get at least six hours of daily direct sunlight.
Soil for Beets
Beets must be planted in soil that is free of rocks, pebbles and other obstructions so that they can grow in their typical round shape.
The ideal soil pH range for beets is between 6.0 and 7.0, though slightly alkaline soils (7.0+) can be tolerated. Acidic soils (pH below 6.0) are intolerable to beets.
The good news is that beets tolerate moderate to poor soil fertility, so you should still be able to successfully grow beets even if your soil is not perfect.
When to Plant Beets
Beet seeds should be sown for a fall harvest between mid-summer and early fall, beginning roughly 4 to 6 weeks before your first fall frost.
Warmer regions such as zone 9 allow for winter beets as long as you plant your seeds in the early to late fall.
You can also plant beets in spring! You can begin your first round of beets in the early spring and continue throughout the summer. Planting every three weeks during these months should give you a healthy recurring yield as long as daily temperatures don't rise above 75°F (24°C).
How to Plant Beets
Given that beets are root vegetables, it is best to plant beets directly into the ground in order to avoid damaging the roots. However, beets are often perfectly ok being transplanted when young, so planting in the ground is not 100% required.
Whether you're planting seeds directly in the ground or transplanting seedlings into the ground later, beets need to be planted 1 to 2 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep. Rows should be at least 12 inches apart. The soil should be a bit wet at all times in order to provide the best possible germination.
How Long Will it Take to Grow Beets?
It takes 5 to 8 days for seeds to germinate in soil that is at least 50°F (10°C). Germination could take two to three weeks in soil that is cooler. If you’re eager for beets you can try soaking the seeds in water for 24 hours prior to planting to speed up germination.
If you planted multiple seeds together, you must start to thin the plants after the greens reach around 4 to 5 inches in height. To do this you simply have to cut the tips. It can be sad to see the seedlings die, but if you keep them all, your beets will not grow as they’re supposed to due to lack of space to grow.
With weekly watering at a rate of around 1 inch per square foot, you should be able to harvest your beets in 55-70 days. Your beets should be between the size of a golf ball and baseball and extra delicious because you grew them yourself!