Planting guide · zone 6b
When to plant beets in zone 6b
In zone 6b, the average last spring frost is Apr 21 and the first fall frost is Oct 22. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 24Direct sowSpring
Apr 14Succession sowing 2Spring
Aug 13Direct sowFall
Aug 27Succession sowing 2Fall
Sep 10Succession 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.