Beet

Beta vulgaris · Vegetable

Quick answer: Water: About 1 in per week, evenly moist. Light: Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade. Soil: Loose, well-drained, free of stones; add compost to heavy clay. Pets: ASPCA lists beet as non-toxic to cats and dogs; mature leaves contain oxalates, so large amounts of leaves are best avoided. If in doubt, ask your vet.

A cool-season root crop that gives two harvests in one: earthy roots and tender greens. It is sown straight into the ground, grows fast and keeps well in cold storage.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun; tolerates light afternoon shade

Water

About 1 in per week, kept evenly moist

Soil

Loose, well-drained, free of stones; add compost to heavy clay

Temperature

Seeds sprout at 45–85 °F; handles light frost, not hard freezes

Spacing

Thin to 3–4 in apart, rows 12–18 in apart

Container

At least 8 in deep, 2 gallons or more (estimated)

Harvest

50–70 days from sowing; roots 1–3 in across

Lifespan

Grown as an annual (biennial)

When?

Sow outdoors in early to mid spring, a few weeks before your last frost, then every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply. A fall crop can be sown in mid to late summer, up to about 6 weeks before the first hard frost.

Step by step

1. Soak seed in warm water for a day to help it sprout.
2. Sow 1/2 in deep, about 2 in apart, in loose, crumbly soil.
3. Keep the surface moist; a crust on dry soil blocks seedlings.
4. Each seed cluster gives several sprouts; thin to one plant every 3–4 in and eat the thinnings.
5. Water evenly through the season; dry spells make roots woody.
6. Mulch lightly to hold moisture and keep weeds down.
7. Pull roots at 1–3 in across; snip a few outer leaves as greens along the way.

Common problems

Pets

ASPCA lists beet as non-toxic to cats and dogs; mature leaves contain oxalates, so large amounts of leaves are best avoided. If in doubt, ask your vet.

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