Root Vegetable

When to Plant Beets

Two crops in one — eat the roots and the greens. Beets are cold-hardy and surprisingly easy.

Sun

Full to partial sun (4-6 hours)

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

50-70

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

Frost Tolerance

high

The Short Answer

Beets are best direct sown when soil temperature reaches at least 40°F. Plant 3 weeks before your average last frost date. Beets can also be planted in fall, 8 weeks before your first frost. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Beets

Beets give you two crops in one: the sweet, earthy root and the nutritious, colorful greens. Each 'seed' is actually a cluster of 2-4 seeds, so thinning is essential — snip extra seedlings at soil level (don't pull, which disturbs the remaining roots). Golden beets don't bleed like red varieties, making them easier to handle in the kitchen. Cylindra (cylindrical shape) produces uniform slices. Chioggia (candy-striped) is beautiful raw but the stripes fade when cooked. Harvest at 1.5-3 inches for the most tender texture.

Direct Sowing

Beets can be direct sown 3 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.5" deep, spaced 4" apart.

Fall Planting

Beets are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 0.5" deep, 4" apart.

Growing Tips

Each beet 'seed' is actually a cluster — thin to one plant after sprouting. Harvest at 1.5-3 inches for tender roots.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Onions Lettuce Cabbage Broccoli

Keep away from:

Pole Beans

Beets Planting Dates by State

Click your state for beets planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026