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

Your comments and tips

06 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Read how long it takes for beetroot to grow. No use worrying if they are only 5 weeks old if it takes 10 weeks to produce good size beets. Also don't over feed with too much nitrogen.
19 Jun 20, Anthony Peddie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What fertilizer do you recommend for beetroot seedlings. Can you grow peas at this time of the year.
20 Jun 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Any general garden fertiliser - just not too high in Nitrogen - you want the beet to grow not a huge amount of leaf. Peas check the planting time here for them.
05 Apr 20, ange (Australia - arid climate)
container gardening in foam and fruit boxes.....how much depth will beetroot require....also carrots....meaning the space to really grow
06 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
250-300mm of soil.
21 Nov 19, Katie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
this website is great
02 Oct 19, (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Very Impressed. Best site I have ever come across/ Thank you,
25 Sep 19, christine trujillo (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i bought beetroot from Bunnings. i planted the seedlings 10 weeks ago and now i am ready to pick them, BUT the beetroot are a pale watery colour so i cooked one to see what would happen. It was tastelss and not a red colour at all. i had plenty of compost and good rich soil. great huge leaves, This is sometyhing i have never seen before and i have grown beetroot many times before, and they were lovely, red and tasty
26 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I had a problem a few years ago. Pale pink colour after I cooked them. I now grow from seeds Detroit & Bulls blood. Don't have too rich a soil, will produce a lot of leaves as you say. They may have been a mix up of beetroot variety. I bought celery seedlings from Bunnings for 5 years, when grown they were Italian parsley I think.
10 Oct 19, anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a great crop of beetroot growing. About 150 plants in different gardens. I planted bulls blood. I just picked 20 great looking 75-100mm size beets. Cooked them for 1.5 hrs and whamo they are this pinkie colour. Same as I described above. I don't know if it is the variety or whether I over cooked them. Will cook for less time next time. Or I won't grow that variety again.
Showing 41 - 50 of 363 comments

.1.what type of pesticides should be applied to beet roots if attached by pests. 2.what type of fertilizer if any is recommended to be applied to the plants.

- Kenneth Chagunda

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.