How to Grow Beets

How to Grow Beets in Your Vegetable Garden

Do you like beets? Okay, so beets may not be the most popular vegetable on the planet. But those who like beets, really love them. Home gardeners quickly discover that beet plants are easy to grow. Big, bulbous beetroots reach maturity quickly and take up little space. Learn how to grow beets with this garden guide.

Almost all varieties of beets are a deep rich red. There is one white variety on the market. Beets are commonly known to bleed, or leak, their deep red juices. This juice can cause stains. Thus, be careful where you set them.

Did you know? Beets are one of eight vegetables that makes V8 taste so great.

Variety of Beets

There are several varieties of beet plants. Most are round in shape, with deep red color.
A few varieties are deep red and cylindrical, making them easier to cut uniform slices.
There is also an uncommon white beet.

How to Grow Beets

To begin with, provide the plants with an ideal soil pH of 6.0 – .5. Also, see pH for Vegetables

Plant Beet seeds thinly, 1/2 inch deep. After germination, thin to 2 to 3 inches apart. Rows should be spaced 1 1/2 feet apart.

Apply a general-purpose fertilizer while sowing, and again two to three weeks later. Beets should be kept weed-free. It is easy for weeds to overshadow the shorter beet leaves.

Do not overcrowd beets. Overcrowding will affect the development of the beet root, causing it to grow deeper and slender, rather than forming a big round bulb.

Days to Maturity: Approximately 55 to 60 days to harvest for most varieties.

Tip: Keep the soil lightly watered. Too little water will result in a tough and leathery crop.

Also see: Plant Problems – The causes and the cures.

Soil Temperatures – Ideal germination temperature by vegetable

Ideal Soil pH – by vegetable

How to Grow Beets - Insects, Pests, and Plant Disease

Aphids and beetles will occasionally infest the plants. Treatment with insecticide is effective.

Mice and squirrels and a few other pests will sometimes nibble on your beet crop.

Mildew and leaf spots are an occasional problem. Treat with fungicides.

Harvesting Beets

Begin to harvest beets when they are two inches in diameter, thinning the row as you go. Beets are tender when young. A big, round beet bulb may look really impressive, but will certainly not taste impressive. Actually, large roots are tough and grainy.

Beet leaves are edible. They are loaded with healthy minerals and vitamins. Begin to pick the leaves as soon as they are big enough to use in salads and other recipes. However, if you want to harvest the bulbs, don’t pick too many leaves from one plant. Instead, pick a few leaves from each plant. from each plant.