We love to grow beets because they’re full of vitamins, and the entire plant can be eaten. The greens from beets are great in salad mixes, and the roots are a sweet, earthy addition to a vegetable juice.
How to Grow:
Beets are a cool weather crop that will grow well when planted 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost and 10 weeks before your last fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App.
Beet seeds are planted 1/2 inch deep, 9 per square foot, in full sun to part shade. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Beets will sprout within approximately 5-10 days with moderate and even moisture.
Companion Plants:
Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.
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Pests:
Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for beets:
- Aphids
- Cabbage Loopers
- Cutworms
- Deer
- Flea Beetles
- Groundhogs/Woodchucks
- Leaf Miners
- Mexican Bean Beetles
- Rabbits
- Slugs/Snails
- Voles (Field Mice)
- Wireworms
Learn more about how to manage pests and attract beneficial insects in our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App!
Harvesting:
Beets will be ready to harvest within 50-70 days after sprouting. For the best flavor, ideal harvesting time would be once the root is about 1.5 to 2 inches. You can check the size by simply feeling around in the soil with your fingers. You can also harvest the leaves, and they make a wonderful addition to salads! Just be sure not to take more than 2 leaves from each plant to keep it healthy.
Cooking & Eating!
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10 thoughts on “Beets: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!”
Beets take some careful scheduling here because of the warm and dry summer weather, but otherwise, they grow remarkably well. I pickle about half of what I grow!