Planting guide · zone 9a
When to plant beets in zone 9a
In zone 9a, the average last spring frost is Feb 28 and the first fall frost is Dec 1. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 31Direct sowSpring
Feb 21Succession sowing 2Spring
Sep 22Direct sowFall
Oct 6Succession sowing 2Fall
Oct 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.