Growing Beetroot, also Beets

Beta vulgaris : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P P P          

(Best months for growing Beetroot in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 45°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, Silverbeet (Swiss Chard), Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill, Peas. Strawberries
  • Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Spinach
  • Young beetroot
  • Seedlings before thinning

Soak seeds in water 24 hours before planting so that you can separate the seeds. Thinning is nearly always required as seedlings emerge from a seedball of several seeds. If you don't thin them, you will get a number of rather pathetic plants which don't grow to an edible size. Harvest in 55 - 70 days but will keep in ground for longer.

Keep well-watered as dry beetroot develop a woody and inedible core. Tip from the Italian Gardener "Make sure the top of the beet's bulb is covered with soil; this keeps the entire bulb the same color and prevents 'corkiness' at the top of the bulb." For tasty and tender beetroot, start harvesting at golfball-size.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beetroot

Apart from boiling whole for salads, beetroot roast well, cut in wedges.
They also make a tasty salad grated raw with carrot and a little fresh orange juice.

Your comments and tips

02 Oct 19, (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Very Impressed. Best site I have ever come across/ Thank you,
26 Jun 20, Sue (USA - Zone 8b climate)
My beets have been in the ground for sometime now. I have tried to thin. The plant is now at least 12 inches tall. As I thin some of the smaller plants there is very little to no 'beet'? It is just a very small root the size and shape of a pencil about an inch long. Any suggestions? Thanks
06 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Read how long it takes for beetroot to grow. No use worrying if they are only 5 weeks old if it takes 10 weeks to produce good size beets. Also don't over feed with too much nitrogen.
18 Nov 22, Adilene (USA - Zone 10a climate)
You should thin them early on and make sure your soil isn't compacted.
14 Jan 23, Jen (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I try to thin my small seedlings when they are about 1” to 2”. I’d space the plants as directed 4” apart if you want beets, by snipping them with scissors. That way you don’t disturb the root. I often remove as many as I keep.
09 Nov 20, Norma Street (USA - Zone 7a climate)
Can I plant beets now Maryland has mild winters
09 Nov 20, (USA - Zone 7a climate)
You could try, if they fail then stick to the planting guide here.
14 Aug 21, Jill (USA - Zone 9a climate)
what is the best type of beetroot to plant in zone 9a?
29 Aug 21, (USA - Zone 7b climate)
There is no best type for any region. Just try a variety or two.
24 May 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I'm in Zone 7a (Maryland). I regularly plant beet seeds September through November, then cover them with a plastic sheet (support the middle, weigh down the sides) after the hard frosts start. I uncover them again about March, and they are ready to harvest in April and May (done by the end of May).
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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