Beets are bold, nutritious, and surprisingly easy to grow—if you know the tricks. Whether you’re a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower, these 19 brilliant tips will guide you from planting tiny seeds to pulling up juicy, flavorful roots.
With the right care, you’ll have a bumper crop of beets that are as vibrant on the plate as they are in the ground.
1. Pick the Right Varieties
Not all beets are created equal! Beyond the classic red beets, you’ll find golden, white, and even candy-striped Chioggia varieties that offer different flavors and growing characteristics.
Golden beets tend to be sweeter and less “earthy” tasting, making them perfect for beet skeptics. Cylinder-shaped varieties like Cylindra give you more uniform slices, while smaller varieties mature faster in shorter growing seasons.
2. Start with Good Soil
Beets absolutely love loose, well-draining soil that’s free of rocks and clumps. Hard, compacted soil leads to deformed roots and stunted growth because beets need room to expand underground.
Before planting, dig your bed about 10-12 inches deep, removing stones that could block root development. Mix in aged compost to improve soil structure and provide nutrients. For clay soils, add sand to improve drainage and prevent waterlogged conditions.
3. Soak Seeds Before Planting
Beet seeds have a hard outer shell that can slow germination. Soaking them overnight in room temperature water gives you a huge head start! The water softens that tough coating and jumpstarts the germination process.
After soaking, drain the seeds and plant them immediately while still damp. You’ll notice significantly faster sprouting times compared to unsoaked seeds – often emerging in just 5-7 days instead of 14+.
4. Plant at the Right Depth
Beet seeds need just the right burial depth – about half an inch deep in the soil. Plant them too shallow, and they’ll dry out quickly or wash away with watering. Go too deep, and the tiny seedlings might not have enough energy to reach the surface.
Space seeds about 1-2 inches apart in rows that are 12-18 inches apart. Remember that each “seed” is actually a cluster containing multiple embryos, so you’ll need to thin seedlings later.
5. Time Your Planting Correctly
Beets perform best in cooler temperatures between 50-75°F, making them perfect for spring and fall gardens. Plant your first batch 2-3 weeks before the last spring frost date in your area. The seeds can germinate in soil as cool as 50°F!
For a continuous harvest, plant small batches every 2-3 weeks through spring. Then pause during the hottest summer months before resuming in late summer for a fall crop. Fall beets often taste sweeter due to cool weather concentrating sugars.
6. Thin Seedlings Properly
Don’t skip thinning! Those clustered beet seeds produce multiple plants that need space to develop proper roots. When seedlings reach about 2 inches tall, thin them to stand 3-4 inches apart by snipping extras at soil level with scissors.
Avoid pulling unwanted seedlings, which can disturb the roots of neighboring plants. Bonus tip: those thinned baby greens are perfectly edible – add them to salads for a nutritious treat rather than composting them!
7. Water Consistently
Beets crave steady moisture – about 1 inch of water weekly. Inconsistent watering causes problems like woody texture, cracking, and bitter flavor. The key is maintaining even soil moisture without waterlogging.
Mulching around plants helps tremendously by retaining moisture and regulating soil temperature. During hot spells, water more frequently but avoid heavy soaking that leaves soil soggy. A moisture meter can help beginners get it just right.
8. Feed with the Right Nutrients
Beets aren’t heavy feeders, but they do have specific nutritional needs. They particularly love potassium and phosphorus for root development, while too much nitrogen causes lush tops but puny roots.
Before planting, work in a balanced organic fertilizer. Avoid fresh manure which contains too much nitrogen. Mid-season, a light side dressing of compost provides gentle nutrition. Most importantly, beets need boron – a deficiency causes black spots inside roots.
9. Watch pH Levels
Beets strongly prefer slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. In acidic soil below 6.0, they struggle to access nutrients and growth becomes stunted. Testing your soil before planting saves heartache later!
If your soil is acidic, add garden lime several weeks before planting to raise pH levels. For already-planted beets in acidic soil, a light sprinkling of wood ash around plants (not touching stems) can help adjust pH gradually.
10. Control Weeds Early
Young beet seedlings can’t compete with aggressive weeds. Their slow initial growth makes the first few weeks critical for weed management. Hand weeding carefully around delicate seedlings prevents them from being overshadowed.
A layer of fine mulch helps suppress weeds while retaining moisture. Just wait until seedlings are a few inches tall before applying it. For larger plantings, using a hoe to cultivate between rows works well, but always stay shallow to avoid damaging beet roots.
11. Prevent Pest Problems
Leafminers love beet greens, creating telltale winding tunnels through leaves. Row covers placed immediately after planting prevent adult flies from laying eggs on leaves. For existing infestations, remove and destroy affected leaves promptly.
Flea beetles can riddle leaves with tiny holes, especially in spring. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around plants deters them naturally. Watch also for aphids on leaf undersides – a strong spray of water often dislodges these pests before they multiply.
12. Rotate Your Crops
Never plant beets where you’ve recently grown other root crops or members of the same plant family. Crop rotation prevents soil-borne diseases and nutrient depletion that occur when the same plant types use the same garden space repeatedly.
Wait at least 3 years before planting beets in the same location. Good rotation partners include beans, peas, or corn, which use different soil nutrients. Keeping a garden journal helps track what grew where in previous seasons.
13. Companion Plant Strategically
Beets get along famously with certain garden neighbors! Onions, garlic, and mint repel many beet pests with their strong scents. Shallow-rooted lettuce makes good use of space between beet rows without competing for nutrients.
Avoid planting beets near deep-rooted crops like carrots that compete for the same soil space. Pole beans and mustard also make poor companions. My favorite beet companions are bush beans, which fix nitrogen in the soil while beets use it.
14. Harvest Greens Continuously
Beet greens are nutritional powerhouses – even more nutritious than the roots! Once plants have at least 6 leaves, you can harvest the outer leaves continuously while leaving the inner ones to support root growth.
Take no more than 1/3 of the leaves at once to keep the plant healthy. Simply snip leaves about an inch above the crown with scissors. Young, tender greens taste best in salads, while larger leaves can be cooked like spinach or added to smoothies.
15. Know When Roots Are Ready
Beets reach peak flavor and texture when they’re between 1.5-3 inches in diameter. Bigger isn’t always better – oversized beets often become woody and lose sweetness. Most varieties mature 50-70 days after planting, but baby beets can be harvested earlier.
Check size by gently brushing away soil around the top of the root. If they need more time, replace the soil carefully. For the sweetest flavor, harvest after a few light frosts in fall, which concentrates sugars in the roots.
16. Use Proper Harvesting Technique
Yanking beets straight from the ground often damages roots. Instead, loosen the soil first with a garden fork inserted several inches away from the plants. Work around the perimeter to gently free the roots without piercing them.
For stubborn beets in hard soil, water thoroughly the day before harvesting to soften the ground. Twist the tops gently while lifting to release the roots. Leave about 1-2 inches of stems attached to prevent bleeding during storage.
17. Store Your Harvest Properly
Fresh beets keep best when you trim the tops to 1-2 inches (but don’t remove completely) and store unwashed in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator crisper drawer. They’ll stay fresh for 2-3 weeks this way.
For longer storage, mature beets can be stored in boxes of slightly damp sand in a cool (32-40°F) root cellar or garage, where they’ll keep for months. Don’t wash beets until you’re ready to use them, as moisture encourages spoilage.
18. Try Container Growing
Limited garden space? No problem! Beets grow wonderfully in containers at least 12 inches deep. Choose compact varieties like ‘Baby Ball’ or ‘Little Ball’ for container success. A 5-gallon bucket with drainage holes works perfectly for about 5-8 plants.
Container-grown beets need more frequent watering and feeding than garden beets. Check moisture daily, especially during hot weather. The advantage? You can move containers to optimize sunlight and extend the growing season by bringing them to sheltered areas during cold snaps.
19. Save Seeds from Open-Pollinated Varieties
Beets are biennial plants that produce seeds in their second year. To save seeds, select a few perfect specimens from open-pollinated varieties (not hybrids) and replant them after winter dormancy. The plants will send up tall flower stalks loaded with seed clusters.
Allow seed heads to dry on the plant until they turn brown. Cut the stalks, hang upside down in paper bags to catch falling seeds, then separate seeds from chaff. Properly dried and stored in cool, dry conditions, beet seeds remain viable for 4-5 years.