Planting guide · zone 9b
When to plant beets in zone 9b
In zone 9b, the average last spring frost is Feb 14 and the first fall frost is Dec 12. Here is beets's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 17Direct sowSpring
Feb 7Succession sowing 2Spring
Oct 3Direct sowFall
Oct 17Succession sowing 2Fall
Oct 31Succession 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.