Beets give two crops in one: sweet, earthy roots and tender greens that cook like chard. They are easy cool-season vegetables that tolerate light frost and grow in most soils. The one trick is thinning, because each beet seed is a cluster that produces several seedlings. This page covers when to sow, how to thin and space them, how to care for them and when to harvest.
Beet at a glance
| Type | Vegetable |
|---|---|
| Season | Cool-season |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Plant spacing | 4 in |
| Row spacing | 12 in |
| Per square foot | 9 |
| Seed depth | ½ in |
| Days to maturity | 50–70 from seed |
| How to start | Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost |
| Water | 1 in per week |
These are the same numbers our plant spacing, square foot and harvest date calculators use. See every crop in the plant database.
When to plant beets
Sow beets directly outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil reaches about 50°F. Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks until early summer, then in late summer about 8 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Fall beets are often the sweetest.
Check your dates with the frost dates by ZIP code tool, and plan repeat sowings with the succession planting planner.
How to plant beets
- Choose full sun. Beets tolerate a little shade, but roots grow best with 6 or more hours of sun.
- Soak the seed. Soak seeds for a few hours before sowing to speed germination.
- Sow 1/2 inch deep. Sow seeds about an inch apart in loose, stone-free soil.
- Thin twice. Each seed is a cluster of 2 to 4 seeds. When seedlings are 2 inches tall, snip extras so one remains in each spot, then thin again to the spacing in the table above. Eat the thinnings as greens.
- Plan your space. The square foot gardening calculator shows how many fit your bed.
Caring for beets
Keep the soil evenly moist, about an inch of water a week. Dry spells make roots woody and cause dark rings inside. Mulch lightly between rows. The garden watering calculator turns this into gallons.
Beets need moderate feeding: compost at sowing is usually enough. Too much nitrogen gives big leaves and small roots. Weed carefully, because beet roots sit near the surface.
Companion plants
| Grow nearby | Onions, garlic, lettuce, cabbage-family crops, bush beans |
|---|---|
| Keep apart | Pole beans; chard and spinach in the same spot as last year (same family) |
Beets fit well between rows of onions, lettuce and cabbage-family crops. Garlic and onions are said to help deter pests. Check other pairings with the companion plant finder.
Common problems
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Small roots, big tops | Plenty of leaves but little root | Crowding, shade or too much nitrogen. Thin on time and grow in full sun. |
| Leaf miners | Pale, winding tunnels or blotches in leaves | Remove affected leaves and use row cover. See the pest identifier. |
| Cercospora leaf spot | Small round spots with purple edges on leaves | Remove spotted leaves, water at the base and rotate crops. |
| Woody or ringed roots | Tough roots with pale or dark rings inside | Heat, dry soil or roots left too long. Water evenly and harvest at 1 1/2 to 3 inches. |
| Scab | Rough, corky patches on the root skin | Usually cosmetic. Keep soil evenly moist and avoid adding lime unless a soil test calls for it. |
Not sure what you are looking at? The plant problem identifier ranks likely causes from the symptoms you see.
When and how to harvest
Beets are ready from the time roots are about 1 1/2 inches across, and are most tender at 1 1/2 to 3 inches. Larger roots become woody. Pull them by the leaves, loosening the soil first if needed. Leave about an inch of stem when cutting off the tops so the roots do not bleed.
Pick a few young leaves from each plant as greens while roots grow, but leave most of the leaves to feed the root. Store roots in the fridge or in damp sand in a cool place for several months; use the greens within a few days. Use the harvest date calculator to plan your harvest.
Plan your beets
- Plant spacing calculator: how many plants fit your bed
- Planting calendar: sowing and transplant dates for your frost dates
- Frost dates by ZIP code: your last spring and first fall frost
- Harvest date calculator: when your crop will be ready
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should I plant beets?
Space beets 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. In a square foot garden, plant 9 per square foot.
How deep do I plant beet seeds?
Sow seeds ½ inch deep. Each seed is a cluster of 2 to 4 seeds, so thin seedlings to one per spot.
How long do beets take to grow?
Most varieties are ready 50–70 days from seed. Check the seed packet, because early and late varieties differ.
How much water do beets need?
About 1 inch of water a week, from rain and watering combined. Keep moisture even; dry spells make roots woody.
Do I need to thin beets?
Yes. Each beet seed is a cluster that produces several seedlings. Thin to one per spot, then to the final spacing, and eat the thinnings as greens.
Can you eat beet greens?
Yes. Beet greens are tender and taste like chard. Pick a few leaves from each plant as roots grow, or use the tops when you harvest.