Beets Planting Guide

May

beets this month

Month-by-month beets fundamentals. Your frost dates change the timing, so pick your county for a tailored plan.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 50–70

Plant depth 0.5″

Spacing 4″

How to water beets
About an inch of water a week keeps beets happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put beets
South-facing beds are ideal for beets. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant beets. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Find your zone's beets schedule →

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?

Zone Compatibility for Beets Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

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

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

Lettuce Onion Cabbage

❌ 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.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

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

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

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

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

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.