How to Grow Beets
Growing a garden offers many benefits, including access to fresh, healthy foods. There are a variety of options that are versatile and can be grown in containers as well.
Beets, Beta vulgaris, are an easy plant to grow, offering easy maintenance and resistance to colder temperatures. They grow well with 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. In addition to growing well in a garden, they can be grown in a container indoors.
If you’re interested in learning all there is to know about growing beets, you should read on. We’re going to discuss the proper way to plant beets, how to care for them, and how to harvest them.
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Are Beets Easy to Grow?
Beets are an incredibly easy plant to grow. These are the benefits of growing these deep red roots with a super sweet flavor:
Grow quickly
Can survive frost
Can survive near-freezing temperatures
Bothered by very few pests and diseases
Are meant to be grown in full sun
Thinning seedlings is recommended but not required, as it is to grow carrots, since you can harvest the young greens to eat, too
Do not require staking
Do not require pruning
What is the Secret to Growing Beets?
The secret to growing beets is planting at the right time to coincide with when you want to harvest them. Additionally, it’s choosing the right location for growing, planting correctly, providing correct care, and harvesting the beets when they are young.
Beets grow best in full sun and for ideal root growth and leaf growth, should be grown in fertile soil. Beets are a cool weather crop, and regardless of whether you're interested in harvesting fresh beets for their roots or for tasty beet greens, these root vegetables prefer loose soil and plenty of moisture.
In this post, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to grow beets, how to harvest beets, and more.
Planting Beets
When you are planting your beets, you need to take several things into account. You’ll need to make sure your beets have the right amount of sunlight, have the correct soil, and are planted at the right time to ensure a proper harvest.
How Much Sun Do Beets Need?
Your beets should receive four hours of direct sunlight daily. Allowing them to receive up to six hours of direct sunlight would not be too much in temperate climates. A good combination is morning sunlight and afternoon shade.
However, if you live in cooler climates, you can give your beets an entire day of full sunlight. The only consideration you have to take is ensuring that their leaves do not burn.
It is possible to grow beets in indirect sunlight and they do surprisingly well; however, there is no guarantee that you will get the best crop possible without allowing them to receive direct sunlight. If you’re just interested in the greens, then indirect sunlight will be enough.
Additionally, beets can grow in full shade, but this is not recommended. This is because the plants will grow very slowly, the crop will be poor, and the roots will be malformed. The roots may also be less flavorful.
Best Soil Type for Beets
Beets like soil that is well-prepared and fertile. They will still respond to soil with average or low fertility. It should be free of rocks and other obstacles to allow for free growth.
The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0. Beets can also tolerate slightly alkaline soil with a pH greater than 7.0. They will not tolerate acidic soil with a pH of anything less than 6.0.
What Month is Best to Plant Beets?
The best time to plant beets depends on when you want to harvest them. For a fall harvest, plant 10 to 12 weeks before your area’s first expected frost. You can follow this up with weekly successive plantings until 4 weeks before the first frost if you choose to. Recently, I purchased a few different types of beets to plant and have ready for the early fall. This is a great way to use up garden space that's lying fallow after harvesting other fast-maturing vegetables.
If you want to plant in the spring, sow your seeds 3 weeks before the last frost or as soon as you can work the soil. Germination can occur in soil temperatures as low as 40℉. You can continue with spring successive plantings until the temperature reaches 80℉.
How to Plant Beets - Step by Step
Beet seeds are multigerm, which means they are large seed clusters containing two to five seeds each. The cluster itself will not need to be broken apart but the seedlings will need to be thinned out.
Start by sowing the seeds 1 to 2 inches apart and a half inch deep. Allow them to grow three to four inches tall and then thin the plants out to one every 3 to 4 inches. Some people wonder whether transplanting beet seedlings if you want to grow beets.
You can do this, but I wouldn't recommend it. Young plants that are transplanted tend to be fragile, since beet seedlings have fragile roots. Beets mature so quickly, so it may just be simpler to sow beet seed in the garden instead.
You can eat the greens of the plants you thinned out if you choose to. Once the plants you spread out are 5 inches tall, spread a layer of organic mulch over them that is 2 to 3 inches thick. This will promote moisture retention while discouraging weed growth.
Mulch will prevent the sun from turning the roots green. As it breaks down, the soil will be improved.
Best Beet Varieties
If you're wondering how to grow beets the right way, you've got to start with the right variety. Many beet varieties are excellent options to grow in your backyard garden. The best varieties include red, white, red and white striped, and golden beets.
As its name suggests, the Albina Vereduna is a pure white beet. It can be harvested between 50 and 60 days. Its main feature is that it has twice as much sugar as a traditional red beet.
Detroit Dark Red is one of my favorite types of beets in the garden, since it produced vibrant red beet roots and tends to be less susceptible to many types of beet pests. It grows well for a spring or winter harvest.
The Golden Beet features bright yellow flesh and the flavor of sweet potatoes. This variety is not as productive as the reds and it can be harvested between 50 and 60 days after sowing.
For a beet that stores well through winter, you’ll want to plant plenty of Lutz Greenleaf, which is also known as Winterkeeper. This variety takes a whopping 70 days to harvest, but it has sweet and tender roots with tasty leaves.
Caring for Beets
Once your beets are well on their way to growing, you’ll need to ensure that you are providing the proper care. With the right watering, fertilizing, and weeding routine, you’ll keep your plants healthy. Consider adding companion plants for optimal health benefits.
Watering
Beets are considered to be a thirsty crop. However, care needs to be taken to ensure they are not over-watered. Over-watering can result in insect infestations, disease, and crop failure.
The amount of water beet crops need depends on several factors, including their maturity, the climate, and soil conditions. Typically speaking, a good watering schedule will provide your beet plants with 1 inch of water each week. This includes any rainwater they receive.
Weeding
Walk your garden daily looking for weeds. You don’t want to wait to deal with them because, before you know it, your entire garden can be overtaken. Pull them out by the roots as soon as you see them.
Fertilizing
Seven days before planting, broadcast fertilizer to prepare the soil. You’ll want to use 3 pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer for your beet plants.
Once the plants are grown, you’ll want to side-dress them using a 10-10-10. You’ll do this 1 to 3 times with three ounces of the formula.
Mulching
Once the beet seedlings have grown to 4 or 5 inches, you’ll need to put a layer of mulch in between the rows. This will help keep the moisture in the soil and keep weeds from growing.
You’ll want to make sure that your mulch choice is organic. As it breaks down, it will improve the soil, keeping it fertile and the best quality for growing your beets.
Pests and Diseases
Several common pests affect beets. You will need to watch for signs of these pests and take action quickly. They include the following:
Aphids
Leafminers
Spider mites
Beet cyst nematodes
Beet webworms
Beet leafhoppers
Blister beetles
Rove beetles
Flea beetles
Seed corn maggots
Vegetable maggots
European corn borers
Cutworms
In addition to pests, there are also a variety of plant diseases that can affect beets. These include:
Alternaria leaf spot
Bacterial leaf spot
Cercospora leaf spot
Beet curly top
Beet rust
Beet mosaic virus
Beet western yellows
Damping off
Scab
Downy mildew
Southern blight
Fusarium yellow
Fusarium root rot
Verticillium wilt
Companion Plants
Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots make excellent companion plants. They naturally repel insects as well as rabbits and deer.
Bush beans, soybeans, and butter beans will enrich the soil around beets, adding nitrogen and nutrients. Make sure you don’t make the mistake of planting pole beans next to your beets because they will stunt the growth of these plants.
Because lettuce has shorter roots, it can fill the open spaces in the garden without competing with your beets for resources.
Radishes can help loosen the soil around your beets. This is beneficial because tight soil can cause your beets to toughen.
Catnip is a powerful insect repellent. It can also be very beneficial in protecting your beet plants from voles and mice.
Harvesting Your Beets
You’ve done all the work and now it’s time to reap the benefits. You’ll need to carefully harvest your beets. Once you harvest them, you’ll need to either use them right away or have a plan for storing them.
Harvesting Beets
When you’re ready to harvest your beets, consider watering them a day or two before the day you plan to pull them. This will help loosen up the soil, making it easier to pull them free.
Firmly grasp where the leaves and the beetroot meet. Pull with a firm and steady hand until the beet is free from the ground.
You can also dig the beets from the ground as an alternative. Simply dig around and below the root, ensuring you don’t slice through it.
If you’re going to use them immediately, wash the dirt off. If you’re going to use them at another time, store them in a cool, dry place with the dirt still on them.
Harvesting Beet Greens
You can sparingly trim beet greens from the roots of your plants while they are still in the ground. If you have harvested the beetroot, you can cut the greens from the root. Regardless of which method you use, you will have to have a plan for them as they will not keep for long.
Storing Your Beets
One of the best ways to store beets is in the crisper drawer in your refrigerator. Cut off all but two inches of the stem and leave them unwashed. They will keep for up to two months.
As an alternative, you can cook your harvested beets in boiling water, slice them up, and freeze them. They can be stored this way for up to a year.
When bringing them in from the garden, you can also place them in a storage container in your root cellar. You’ll need peat moss, sand, or sawdust to store them within the container. Check on them monthly to ensure they are still fresh.
How to Preserve Beets
You can preserve your beets by pickling them. Start by chopping the chard off the beets, leaving just two inches of stem. Cook them in boiling water until they are tender, which will take approximately one hour.
Once they are cooked, cool them in an ice bath and then peel the skins off. Slice the beets into small pieces. Make a brine from vinegar, salt, water, and sugar then pack into your canning jars and process.
You can also freeze or dehydrate beets in your dehydrator. These versatile vegetables taste great no matter how you choose to preserve them!
How to Use Beets in the Kitchen
Beets are an amazing ingredient and are very versatile. They can be used in a variety of recipes.
Health drinks often call for beets as an ingredient. Raw beets can be squeezed for their juice while cooked beets can be blended into smoothies.
Pickled beets can add a kick to your meal. They’re often added to salads or offered as side dishes.
Beets can be roasted, grilled, or boiled. If you like your beets extra sweet, you’ll want to opt for grilling or roasting. For the natural taste of beets, enjoy them raw.
Can You Grow Beets in Containers?
You can grow beets in containers as long as you provide the right conditions. You’ll need a container that is at least 10 inches deep to allow plenty of room for the roots to grow and expand. It can be as wide as you want or need it to be.
The soil will still need to be fertile and have a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It will need to be loose enough to allow the beets to comfortably develop.
Place the container in a location where it is going to receive 4 to 6 hours of sunlight each day to allow for optimal growth. If you don’t have suitable lighting conditions, you may need to invest in a grow light.
Final Thoughts
Growing beets can be a lot of fun. They’re an easy plant to grow with minimal maintenance requirements.
They require 4 to 6 hours of daylight each day, soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, and a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Beets enjoy good watering but you must ensure you do not over-water them.
Once the beets have reached maturity, you can harvest them. You’ll need to have a plan to use them or store them so that they don’t go to waste.
And don’t forget - you can even grow beet microgreens!
Are you planning on growing beets this fall? What tips do you have for using them or planting them? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
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