How to Grow Beets in the Garden
When thinking about how to grow beets in the garden, don’t neglect the soil. Beets do best in deep, well drained soil, but never clay, which is too heavy for large roots to grow. Clay soil should be mixed with organic matter to help soften it. Hard soil can cause the roots of the beet to be tough. Sandy soil is best. If you plant beets in the fall, use a slightly heavier soil to help protect against any early frost.
When to Plant Beets
If you’ve been wondering when to plant beets, they can be grown all winter long in many southern states. In northern soils, beets shouldn’t be planted until the temperature of the soil is at least 40 degrees F. (4 C.). Beets like cool weather, so it’s best to plant them during this time. They grow well in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall and do poorly in hot weather. When growing beets, plant the seeds 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) apart in the row. Cover the seeds lightly with loose soil, and then sprinkle it with water. You should see the plants sprouting in 7 to 14 days. If you want a continuous supply, plant your beets in several plantings, about three weeks apart from each other. You can plant beets in partial shade, but when growing beets, you want their roots to reach a depth of at least 3 to 6 inches (8-15 cm.), so don’t plant them under a tree where they might run into tree roots.
When to Pick Beets
Harvesting beets can be done seven to eight weeks after the planting of each group. When the beets have reached the desired size, gently dig them up from the soil. Beet greens can be harvested as well. Harvest these while the beet is young and the root is small.
