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Beets Planting Guide

Beets are a dual-purpose root vegetable with edible roots and nutritious greens. They come in red, golden, and striped varieties and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Beta vulgaris · Vegetable · Amaranthaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Beets Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Beets?

Beets Growing Regions

Click any state to see the Beets planting schedule for that location.

AL — Zone 7b AL AR — Zone 7b AR AZ — Zone 8a AZ CA — Zone 9a CA CO — Zone 5a CO CT — Zone 6b CT DE — Zone 7a DE FL — Zone 9a FL GA — Zone 7b GA IA — Zone 5a IA ID — Zone 5b ID IL — Zone 5b IL IN — Zone 6a IN KS — Zone 6a KS KY — Zone 6b KY LA — Zone 8b LA MA — Zone 6a MA MD — Zone 7a MD ME — Zone 4b ME MI — Zone 5b MI MN — Zone 4a MN MO — Zone 6a MO MS — Zone 8a MS MT — Zone 4b MT NC — Zone 7a NC ND — Zone 3b ND NE — Zone 5a NE NH — Zone 5a NH NJ — Zone 7a NJ NM — Zone 6b NM NV — Zone 6b NV NY — Zone 5b NY OH — Zone 6a OH OK — Zone 7a OK OR — Zone 7a OR PA — Zone 6a PA RI — Zone 6b RI SC — Zone 8a SC SD — Zone 4a SD TN — Zone 7a TN TX — Zone 8a TX UT — Zone 5b UT VA — Zone 7a VA VT — Zone 4b VT WA — Zone 7a WA WI — Zone 4b WI WV — Zone 6a WV WY — Zone 4a WY AK — Zone 2a AK HI — Zone 11a HI
Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone Start Indoors Direct Sow Transplant Harvest
Zone 2a — May 23 — Jul 18 – Aug 15
Zone 2b — May 15 — Jul 10 – Aug 7
Zone 3a — May 8 — Jul 3 – Jul 31
Zone 3b — May 3 — Jun 28 – Jul 26
Zone 4a — Apr 29 — Jun 24 – Jul 22
Zone 4b — Apr 24 — Jun 19 – Jul 17
Zone 5a — Apr 11 — Jun 6 – Jul 4
Zone 5b — Apr 4 — May 30 – Jun 27
Zone 6a — Mar 27 — May 22 – Jun 19
Zone 6b — Mar 20 — May 15 – Jun 12
Zone 7a — Mar 11 — May 6 – Jun 3
Zone 7b — Mar 4 — Apr 29 – May 27
Zone 8a — Feb 22 — Apr 19 – May 17
Zone 8b — Feb 11 — Apr 8 – May 6
Zone 9a — Jan 20 — Mar 17 – Apr 14
Zone 9b — Jan 4 — Mar 1 – Mar 29
Zone 10a — Dec 11 — Feb 5 – Mar 5
Zone 10b — Dec 11 — Feb 5 – Mar 5
Zone 11a — Dec 11 — Feb 5 – Mar 5
Zone 11b — Dec 11 — Feb 5 – Mar 5
Why are some columns showing "—"?

Start Indoors shows "—" because Beets is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.

Transplant shows "—" because Beets is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Beets

0.5"
Planting Depth
4"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Amaranthaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Amaranthaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Beets

Beets matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Beets

✅ Good Companions

❌ Keep Away From

Pole Beans Mustard Greens

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Beets

Soak seeds overnight before planting to improve germination. Thin seedlings to 3-4 inches apart. Harvest roots when 1.5-3 inches in diameter for best texture.

💧 Watering: Beets needs approximately 0.8 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Beets Seeds

🌾 Save Your Own Beets Seeds
Life Cycle Biennial
Pollination Wind Pollinated
How to Collect Replant roots for 2nd-year seeds. Rub stalks to free clusters.
Storage Store airtight; viable 6 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 1/2 mile from Swiss chard — same species, they will cross.

Get our full Seed Saving Guide for 200 plants →

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱
Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

Essential for starting seeds indoors before transplanting.

🧪
Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

Know your soil before you plant for best results.

🏷️
Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Helpful for your garden setup.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Beets by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Beets?

Beets (Beta vulgaris) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Beets grow in?

Beets can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Beets need?

Growing Beets requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: April 2026.

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