Planting guide · zone 7a
When to plant beets in zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average last spring frost is Apr 12 and the first fall frost is Oct 29. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 15Direct sowSpring
Apr 5Succession sowing 2Spring
Aug 20Direct sowFall
Sep 3Succession sowing 2Fall
Sep 17Succession 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.