Crop Guide – Beets
Common Name Beets
Scientific Name Beta vulgaris
Uses Edible; Steamed, roasted, pickled, grated for salads, cubed (mixed with sweet potatoes), risotto, soups, latkes
Crop Timeline
- Direct Sow
- Spring Planting: 4-6 weeks before last frost; sow as early as March 1 (Plan to end harvest season by late June).
- Fall Planting: 8-10 weeks before first killing frost; sow as late as September 15
Planting tips
- You may need to trim out 1-5 seedlings as many have up to 6 seeds in the tiny “fruit” that is planted. The easiest way to thin without disturbing the roots is to use scissors and trim at the soil line.
- Fertilizer: Use a complete organic fertilizer; add blood meal for extra Nitrogen
- Number of plants per square foot: 9-16
Harvest
- Harvest 7-8 weeks after sowing.
- Grasp all the leaves in one hand and pull straight up.
- Harvest as young as you like up until tennis ball size. However, don’t leave beets in the ground long after maturity as they will become tough and woody.
Pests
- None of significance
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