How We Plant Beets

Beets, called Beetroots in Europe, are very hardy plants that like cool weather. The seeds are actually dried fruits encased in a tough coating that contains five or six seeds inside. They can be planted in the outside garden from late April thru mid-July. If you plant beets too early, where temperatures normally are below 50 degrees F, they can bolt prematurely. If you plant them any later, they can become tough and stringy.

Beets are a bellwether plant: if they do well then the chances are that your other vegetables will also do well. Harvest them when the beet is around 2” across, otherwise they might get too tough.

We first cut a slit in the plastic and dig a trench about 1/2” deep. Pour the seeds in your hand and plant the seeds about 1” apart. Cover with soil and give them a light drink of water. In 50 degree F soil the seedlings will emerge above ground in about two weeks; if soil temperature is 65 degrees F, they will emerge in about one week. You will probably have to thin the seedlings, 3” to 4” apart, otherwise overcrowding will occur and they will not develop into nicely rounded roots.

The variety that we usually grow is Detroit Dark Red. We normally plant the first beet seeds in the outdoor garden during the first week of May.