Planting guide · zone 6a
When to plant beets in zone 6a
In zone 6a, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the first fall frost is Oct 15. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 31Direct sowSpring
Apr 21Succession sowing 2Spring
Aug 6Direct sowFall
Aug 20Succession sowing 2Fall
Sep 3Succession 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.