Growing Beetroot, also Beets

Beta vulgaris : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P P P P         P P P P

(Best months for growing Beetroot in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 45°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-10 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Onions, Silverbeet (Swiss Chard), Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill, Peas. Strawberries
  • Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Carrots, Sweetcorn, Spinach
  • Young beetroot
  • Seedlings before thinning

Soak seeds in water 24 hours before planting so that you can separate the seeds. Thinning is nearly always required as seedlings emerge from a seedball of several seeds. If you don't thin them, you will get a number of rather pathetic plants which don't grow to an edible size. Harvest in 55 - 70 days but will keep in ground for longer.

Keep well-watered as dry beetroot develop a woody and inedible core. Tip from the Italian Gardener "Make sure the top of the beet's bulb is covered with soil; this keeps the entire bulb the same color and prevents 'corkiness' at the top of the bulb." For tasty and tender beetroot, start harvesting at golfball-size.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Beetroot

Apart from boiling whole for salads, beetroot roast well, cut in wedges.
They also make a tasty salad grated raw with carrot and a little fresh orange juice.

Your comments and tips

18 Mar 24, Alan Booth (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in Newcastle which I believe is situated in temperate climatic conditions. Is March/ April a suitable time to grow baby beetroot?
20 Dec 23, Marilyn Treon (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Planting little at a time. in Zone 9 I have Beets to go in wondering when I see May is a good time?
02 Jan 24, (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Check the planting guide for zone 9.
06 Jul 23, V (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I'm planting beets for the first time & I keep seeing conflicting advice on how far apart to space/thin beet seeds/seedlings. This website says 8" to 12", Botanical Interests says 4", Burpee says 3", etc. Do I just follow the packet & hope for the best? There's a big difference between 3 and 12 inches.
11 Mar 24, Russ (USA - Zone 5b climate)
They should be thinned to 3 inches apart, I plant mine about an inch apart. The reason for an inch apart is not all seeds germinate/emerge and some are weak. If you let them develop enough the ones you thin out taste good in a salad. Good luck
23 Apr 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Geelong. I have various results with growing beetroot. At the moment the bulb size is very small. What can help with this?
07 Jun 23, deidre (Australia - arid climate)
Beetroots fill out more in warm weather. Other reasons for size variations include planting too close together or not enough phosphorus in the soil. Sowing a green manure crop will remedy nutrient deficiencies. Good luck!
08 May 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I grow from seed, plant out when 3-4 leaf stage about 5-6
12 Mar 23, Stephen MUSGRAVE (Australia - temperate climate)
You say not to grow beetroot near carrots. What happens if they are close together
03 Feb 23, Helen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've read that beetroot likes boron and this should be added to them at some stage. How much is required, what ratio to water ( 1 teaspoon to 9 litres????) At what stage ( seeds, growing seedlings, or plants with bulbs forming and how often. Also can I grow outside of my greenhouse over the colder months of winter or make sure harvested before frosts??
Showing 1 - 10 of 363 comments

I couldn't grow it for years, though I kept trying because sometimes it seemed like I was achieving some improvement. Then I went through a period of getting the foodscraps from a shop and feeding them to the chickens, though most ended up being dug under the soil. The soil was teeming with worms all the time. Within a year, I was growing good beetroot. I think the amount of organic matter made the difference. Now I'm not getting the foodscraps anymore, and my beetroot is average. I'd suggest digging your food scraps under the soil and letting it compost there rather than in a pile or bin, and see if that helps. I'd love to hear whether it does.

- Heidi

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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