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When to Plant Beets in Cavalier County, ND

Beets
Cavalier County, North Dakota Zone 3b July

Your July planting checklist for Cavalier County, North Dakota

Your Cavalier County, North Dakota garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for July and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost September 28
Soil temp (4") 69°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 15.6 hrs
  1. Collect beets at their peak

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

  2. Get beets in for a late-season harvest

    Count back from your first frost (September 28) — these need to mature before the cold arrives.

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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.

Cavalier County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 138 days.

At an elevation of 568 feet, Cavalier County receives approximately 27.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 78°F, so choose short-season varieties of Beets to ensure they mature before fall.

Cavalier County, ND (Zone 3b) Short season
138 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
138 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Cavalier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Beets Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 8 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Aug 19

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Cavalier County

How your county's soil matches Beets's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.4) is within Beets's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Cavalier County is excellent for Beets — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.3%) — Beets will thrive.

How to Plant Beets

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

Fall planting: Sow 12 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Beets

3
successive plantings in your 138-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 20 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 06.

Beets Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Beets

Beets needs approximately 0.8 inches of water per week (3.5" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Beets Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.5" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.5" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.5" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.5" 2.9" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 2.9" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Cavalier County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Beets Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Beets needs ~510 GDD — county provides 1,173 GDD Excellent fit

Beets Planting Timeline — Cavalier County, ND

Beets Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 6 May 6 – May 27
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 – Jul 29
Fall Sowing July 6 Jul 6 – Jul 20

Plant 0.5" deep · 4" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 3b

📆 Growing Season

138 days in Cavalier County

Growing Tips for Beets in Cavalier County

Direct sow Beets outdoors after May 13 in Cavalier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Pole Beans
  • Mustard Greens

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Beets in Cavalier County, ND?

Cavalier County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Beets planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cavalier County, ND?

Cavalier County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is September 28.

🌱

Your Cavalier County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Cavalier County (Zone 3b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Cavalier County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.