When can I plant beet outside?

Direct sow or transplant 4 weeks before your last spring frost.

How long until beet is ready to harvest?

50-70 days. Roots are 1.5-3 inches diameter with shoulders visible above soil; harvest before they exceed 3 inches for best tenderness

Lawn Guardian

When to Plant Beet

Beta vulgaris

root_vegetableZones 2–10beginner

Dual-purpose crop with sweet, earthy roots and nutritious greens. Easy to grow in most conditions. Golden and Chioggia varieties add color to the plate.

Planting calendar

Direct sow / transplant

4 weeks before your last spring frost.

Fall planting

8 weeks before your first fall frost.

Each seed cluster produces multiple seedlings -- thin to one per spot; succession plant every 2-3 weeks

Spacing & harvest

Plant spacing: 3-4 inches
Row spacing: 12-18 inches
Days to harvest: 50-70 days
Ready when: Roots are 1.5-3 inches diameter with shoulders visible above soil; harvest before they exceed 3 inches for best tenderness

Companion planting

Plant near

Lacinato Kale — Different root depths, good space companions
Curly Kale — Different root depths allow good intercropping
Kohlrabi — Good space companions with different root depths
Lettuce (Butterhead) — Beets shade lettuce roots
Garlic — Garlic deters pests from beets

Get beet planting dates for your exact zone

Lawn Guardian turns this guidance into a schedule timed to your USDA zone and this week's actual weather — and adapts every time you log what you've done.

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Sources: Purdue University Turfgrass Science: Use Growing Degree Days to Better Time Your Applications · University of Missouri Extension: Cool-Season Grasses: Lawn Maintenance Calendar · University of Minnesota Extension: Pre-emergent Herbicides for Crabgrass Control in Lawns