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When to Plant Beets in Georgetown, OH

Beets
Brown County, Ohio Zone 6b June

June to-do list for Brown County, Ohio

Each item below is timed to Brown County, Ohio's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 18
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 73°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.7 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for beets

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

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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.

Georgetown, Ohio is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 189 days.

At an elevation of 1,146 feet, Brown County receives approximately 32 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Beets during the growing season.

Georgetown, OH (Zone 6b) Moderate season
189 days
Last Spring Frost April 18
189 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Georgetown Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Beets Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Jul 31

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 Georgetown

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.0–6.9) is within Beets's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Beets.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.8%) — Beets will thrive.

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.

Succession Planting Beets

4
successive plantings in your 189-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 15 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 15.

Beets Water Budget

Plant needs
0.8″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 664 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.5" 2.9" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
May 3.5" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.5" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.5" 3.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.5" 3.2" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3.5" 2.7" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3.5" 2.3" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Brown 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 ~960 GDD — county provides 3,024 GDD Excellent fit

Beets Planting Timeline — Georgetown, OH

Beets Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest May 30 May 30 – Jun 27
Fall Sowing August 15 Aug 15 – Aug 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.8"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

189 days in Brown County

Growing Tips for Beets in Georgetown

Direct sow Beets outdoors after April 18 in Brown 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.

🌱

Your Brown County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Brown County (Zone 6b). 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 Brown County, OH. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.