Any time less than a month before the first frost may be too short of a window.
take a stab at choose a site that gets at least six hours of unfiltered sun.
Keep your rows of beets separated by about a foot.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Fortunately, beets do not need a trellis or any kind of support.
However, they can tolerate some light shade.
Soil
A light, rich, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is best.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Rocks, clay, weeds, and anything else that can interfere with root development should be removed.
you’re free to provide boron by using compost or seaweed extract as a soil amendment.
Temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Any good vegetable fertilizer will do, following label instructions.
In fact, beets will only flower when grown at the wrong time of the year.
Chard will not form a large taproot like beets do, instead putting energy into leaves.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Harvesting Beets
Beets take around 55 to 70 days after planting to mature.
you’re able to start harvesting beet greens once the plants reach around 3 to 4 inches tall.
The greens are most tender before they reach 6 inches, and they can be eaten raw or cooked.
BS Pollard / Getty Images
Be sure to leave some leaves on the plants, as theyre necessary for root development.
Beetroots are ready to harvest when theyre around 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter.
Larger roots will be tougher and more fibrous.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Harvest the beetroots by loosening the soil and gently pulling them out.
Leave at least 1 inch of the stem to avoid bleeding during cooking.
Beets can also be canned, pickled, or frozen.
Fresh beets will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.
The roots will need lots of room to grow.
Pot in well-draining soila potting mix formulated especially for vegetables is ideal for beets.
That way, you won’t have to disturb the sensitive roots.
Beets will need to be initially thinned, however, after the seedlings first germinate.
Each beet needs four inches of space around it to grow.
Beets are easily grown from seed, and beet seeds are both easy to find and affordable.
The above-ground beet greens will not survive freezing temperatures, but the taproot below will.
Cover your winter beets with straw or mulch to provide some protection from the elements.
In zones 9 and above, they often can be grown over the winter months.
see to it the soil is not dried out.
If getting appropriate water, fertilize with a vegetable fertilizer, following package instructions.
Beet plants need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
If getting enough light, double-check your plants aren’t overcrowded and are getting enough water.
Beets are fairly easy to grow in loose soil and mild temperatures.
Beets typically mature in 55 to 70 days after planting.
