Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant beets in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Apr 17Direct sowSpring
May 8Succession sowing 2Spring
Jul 23Direct sowFall
Aug 6Succession sowing 2Fall
Aug 20Succession sowing 3Fall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
Loose, well-drained soil, pH 6.0–7.0. Avoid fresh manure and remove rocks — obstructions fork the roots.
Seedling care
Each beet “seed” is a cluster of 2–4 seeds. Thin to the strongest per spot by snipping (not pulling) at 2 in tall.
Growing notes
Keep evenly moist for smooth roots. Row spacing 12 in. Light frost sweetens them noticeably.
Harvest
Pull at 1½–3 in diameter for the best texture. Greens are excellent eating from thinnings onward.