Grow Beets

Every gardener should learn how to grow beets in the backyard garden. Beets can be grown in spring and in fall and provide benefits to your health such as lowering blood pressure and helping with digestion. Let's explore this colorful and sweet vegetable further.

You might not think of beets as the first crop to plant, but once you do attempt to grow them in your backyard garden, you’ll probably wonder why you waited so long. They’re colorful, tasty, hardy, and packed with nutrition. Plus, they’re one of the easiest root vegetables for home gardeners.

In this two‑part guide, we’ll start with how to plant beet seeds and grow strong, beautiful beets in your garden. Then we’ll switch to the health benefits of beets, and why they should be a regular part of your meals. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to get beets from seed to plate.

Grow Beets - 12/22-12/28/2025

Grow beets in your garden in early spring and in fall. This is our Rainbow Beet seed pack.

Before we get into the details, let’s clear one thing up: fresh, homegrown beets taste completely different from the canned beets you might remember from childhood. When you grow beets in your backyard garden, they’re sweet, tender, and full of flavor. Even beet haters often change their minds after tasting them straight from the soil.

I still remember the first time I pulled a beet out of my own garden. The top was bright green, the root a deep ruby red. I baked it in the oven with a little olive oil and salt. One bite and I realized I’d been missing out for years. That one beet turned into a yearly habit of growing row after row.

Plant And Grow Beets From Seed In Your Backyard - How?

David loves to grow beets. Here is a bed he planted on our farm. He likes to eat them pickled the best.

First, you’ll need good seed. Not all beet seeds are the same. For the best flavor, color, and size, get your heirloom beet seeds from David’s Garden Seeds®. They offer reliable varieties that germinate well and give you consistent roots. Starting with quality seed makes the whole process easier.

Next, think about timing. Beets grow roots in cool weather, so they love spring and fall. In most areas, you can plant beets about 2–4 weeks before your last expected spring frost, and again about 6–8 weeks before your first fall frost. If your summers get very hot, your best crops will be in those cool shoulder seasons.

Check your local frost dates online or from your extension office. Mark two beet planting windows on your calendar: one in early spring, one in late summer. This simple step helps you plan ahead instead of guessing when to sow.

Grow Beets - Sun And Soil

You can grow beets in a variety of colors but the Detroit Dark Red is our number one selling beet seed.

Now let’s talk about the right spot in your yard. Beets need:
- Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light a day)
- Loose, well‑drained soil
- A place that doesn’t stay soggy after rain

Sun is important because it powers photosynthesis, which feeds both the roots and the greens. If you only have partial shade, beets can still grow, but the roots may be smaller and slower to develop. Aim for the sunniest spot you can give them.

Soil makes a huge difference with root crops. Beets like soil that is:
- Loamy, not heavy clay
- Free of rocks and big clumps
- Slightly acidic to neutral (pH around 6.0–7.5)

If your soil is heavy clay or full of stones, your beets may end up twisted, forked, or stunted. Don’t worry, though—you can fix this. Work plenty of compost into the top 8–12 inches of soil. This loosens it and adds nutrients at the same time.

To prepare the bed:
- Remove weeds, sticks, and rocks.
- Use a garden fork or shovel to loosen the soil deeply.
- Rake the surface smooth so seeds can make good contact.

Grow Beets - Don't Fertilize Before You Plant

Avoid fresh manure right before planting. It can cause beets to fork and can lead to too much leafy growth and small roots. Well‑rotted compost is perfect. If you want to add fertilizer, choose a balanced or slightly lower‑nitrogen blend, such as 5‑10‑10, so the energy goes into the root, not just the tops.

Now it’s time to plant. Beet “seeds” are actually little clusters of seeds called seedballs. That means each “seed” can produce several seedlings. Keep that in mind, because you’ll need to thin them later.

Grow Beets - Sowing The Seed

To sow the seeds:
- Draw shallow furrows about ½ inch deep.
- Space rows 12–18 inches apart for easy weeding and harvesting.
- Drop a seedball every 1–2 inches along the row.
- Cover lightly with soil and gently firm it down.

Water the bed well after planting, using a gentle spray so you don’t wash the seeds away. You want the top inch of soil to stay evenly moist until the seeds sprout. If it dries out, germination will be spotty.

In cool spring soil, beet seeds usually sprout in 7–14 days. In warmer late summer soil, they may come up faster. While you’re waiting, keep watching the moisture. Light daily watering works better than a big soak followed by a dry spell.

When the beet seedlings pop up, you’ll often see little clusters. Remember, that’s normal because each seedball contains more than one seed. At first, just enjoy the tiny green forest. Let them grow until they’re a couple of inches tall.

Grow Beets - Thinning

Here are some pickled beets that David made.

Thinning is the step that a lot of gardeners skip, but it’s crucial if you want nice round beets. If the plants are too close together, the roots will crowd each other and stay small. Think of thinning as giving each beet its own room to grow.

When seedlings are 2–3 inches tall, thin them to about 3 inches apart. You can do this by:
- Snipping extra seedlings at the soil line with scissors, or
- Gently pulling out extras, trying not to disturb the ones you’re keeping

Don’t waste the thinnings. Beet greens are completely edible. Rinse them and use them like baby spinach in salads or sauté them with a little garlic and oil. This way, thinning gives you an early harvest while you wait for the roots.

As your beets grow, steady watering is your best friend. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation. The soil should be moist but not waterlogged. Uneven watering can lead to cracked or tough roots.

Grow Beets - Mulch, Weeds, Pests

Grow beets like everyone's favorite, the Detroit Dark Red. We also have a Detroit Golden and a Detroit White. Try them all!

Mulch helps a lot. Once your seedlings are 3–4 inches tall, spread a thin layer of mulch—like shredded leaves, grass clippings (not too thick), or straw—around the plants, keeping it a bit away from the stems. This:
- Holds moisture
- Keeps weeds down
- Helps the soil stay cool in warm weather

Speaking of weeds, try not to let them get ahead of you. Young beet roots are shallow, and they don’t like competition. Hand‑weed carefully, or use a small hoe to slice weeds off at the surface. Move slowly so you don’t disturb the beet roots.

Beets don’t usually need a lot of extra fertilizer if you prepared the soil with compost. But if growth seems slow or the leaves are pale, you can side‑dress with compost or a light sprinkle of organic fertilizer along the rows, then water it in.

One thing to watch for is too much nitrogen. This can cause big leafy tops and small roots. If you are also growing heavy feeders like corn or tomatoes, don’t just copy their feeding schedule for beets. Roots like a more balanced, gentle approach.

Pests on beets are usually not too bad, but you might see:
- Leaf miners (white squiggly trails inside the leaves)
- Flea beetles (tiny holes in leaves)
- Slugs (ragged holes and slime trails)

For leaf miners, remove and destroy affected leaves to break their life cycle. For flea beetles, floating row covers over young plants can help. For slugs, hand‑picking, beer traps, or rough mulch like crushed eggshells can reduce damage. Most of the time, healthy beets can handle a little chewing.

Diseases like leaf spot can show up in wet, crowded conditions. To prevent this:
- Space plants properly
- Water at the base of the plant, not over the leaves
- Rotate where you plant beets each year if you can

Grow Beets - Harvesting

When you grow beets, you get the actual beet as well as the leaves to eat.

Now, when are your beets ready to pull? That depends on the variety and your taste. Most types are ready 50–70 days after planting. You can start checking when the top of the root (the “shoulder”) is about 1–2 inches across.

Smaller beets are usually more tender and sweet. Many gardeners like to harvest them when they’re ping‑pong ball to golf ball size. But you can let some grow larger if you like bigger slices for roasting or grating. It’s your garden, so experiment and see what size you enjoy most.

To harvest, gently loosen the soil beside the beet with your hand or a small fork, then grasp the greens near the base and pull straight up. Shaking off extra soil back into the bed helps keep your garden tidy and your harvest clean.

Don’t toss the tops. Beet greens are just as useful as the roots. Cut the greens off, leaving about 1–2 inches of stem on the root to prevent bleeding, and rinse both greens and roots well.

If you’re not eating your beets right away, store the roots in the fridge in a breathable bag or container. They can keep for several weeks. The greens should be used sooner—within a few days—because they wilt faster.

Grow Beets - Try It Again

Grow beets that are different like these White Albinos.

Once you’re comfortable with growing one crop of beets, try succession planting. Sow a small row every 2–3 weeks during the cool part of the season. This gives you a steady supply instead of one big harvest all at once.

You can also grow beets in raised beds or large containers if your soil is poor. Just make sure the bed or pot is at least 8–10 inches deep, filled with loose, fertile mix. Container beets often grow quickly because the soil warms up faster in spring.

When you grow beets in your backyard garden year after year, you start to notice little tricks that work best in your space—when the soil is just right to work, how much water your bed needs, which varieties from David’s Garden Seeds you like best. Taking a few notes each season helps you improve over time.

And here’s a bonus tip: beets are great gateway crops for new gardeners. They’re forgiving, don’t take up much space, and reward you with both roots and greens. If you’re teaching a child or a friend how to garden, beets are a fun and colorful choice.

So that covers the basics of planting, growing, and harvesting. Now let’s look at why all this effort is worth it—why beets are such a powerful food for your health.

Grow Beets In Your Backyard Garden - Why?

Have fun with it and grow beets that look like peppermints. These are Chioggia Guardsmark beets.

Beets aren’t just pretty and tasty. They’re loaded with nutrients. When you eat beets that you grew yourself, you’re getting maximum freshness and flavor, plus everything your body needs from this root powerhouse. Let’s walk through the major health benefits of beets in simple terms.

First, beets are rich in vitamins and minerals. A typical serving gives you:
- Folate (vitamin B9), important for cell growth and brain function
- Potassium, which helps control blood pressure
- Manganese, which supports bones and metabolism
- Vitamin C (especially in the greens), which helps your immune system

They’re also a great source of fiber. Fiber keeps your digestion moving and helps you feel full longer. When you eat beets regularly, you’re feeding the good bacteria in your gut, which can improve overall digestion and even your mood.

One of the most talked‑about health benefits of beets is their impact on blood pressure. Beets contain natural nitrates that your body turns into nitric oxide. This helps relax and widen blood vessels, which can support healthier blood flow and lower blood pressure in some people.

Because of that same nitric oxide effect, beets can also help with exercise performance. Some athletes drink beet juice before workouts to help them go a little longer with a bit less effort. You don’t have to be a serious athlete to benefit; even a brisk walk or garden work can feel easier when your circulation is strong.

Beets also support your heart in other ways. Their fiber, antioxidants, and plant compounds can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and inflammation. Over time, this can lower your risk of heart disease when combined with an overall healthy lifestyle.

Let’s talk about antioxidants. These are compounds that help protect your cells from damage. The deep red color in beets comes from pigments called betalains. These pigments act as powerful antioxidants and may help fight oxidative stress in your body.

Oxidative stress is linked to many chronic problems, from aging skin to more serious issues. By eating colorful foods like beets, you’re basically giving your cells a shield. The richer the color, the more of these helpful pigments you’re getting.

Beets may also support liver health. Your liver is your body’s main filter. Some research suggests that the antioxidants and nutrients in beets help the liver process toxins more efficiently and reduce inflammation there. Think of beets as part of your body’s cleanup crew.

The greens are just as impressive. Beet greens are like leafy multivitamins. They’re high in vitamin K (important for blood clotting and bones), vitamin A, vitamin C, and minerals like iron and calcium. If you throw the tops away, you’re literally tossing valuable nutrition into the compost.

There’s also a brain benefit. Because beets can boost nitric oxide and blood flow, they may help increase circulation to the brain. Better blood flow can support sharper thinking and memory, especially as you get older. Adding beets to your meals is one simple way to care for your brain.

Many people find that beets help keep them “regular” too. The mix of water and fiber in beets and beet greens supports smooth digestion. If you tend to deal with constipation, adding cooked beets and sautéed beet greens to your weekly menu can gently help things along.

Grow some golden beets like the Touchstone Gold. Aren't they beautiful?

Another plus: beets are naturally sweet but still relatively low in calories. This makes them a smart choice if you’re watching your weight but still want comfort foods. Roasted beets can satisfy a sweet craving in a much healthier way than a processed dessert.

When you grow beets in your backyard garden, you control how they’re grown—no wax, no mystery sprays, no long shipping and storage. You pick them at peak ripeness, when their nutrition and flavor are highest. That makes every health benefit even stronger.

And remember the bigger picture: Beets are healthy and should be a food that you regularly grow in your garden and eat. They’re simple to plant, generous with both roots and greens, and they bring powerful nutrition to your plate. For such a small, humble root, they do a lot for you.

So go ahead—grab some beet seeds from David’s Garden Seeds, pick a sunny spot, and start your first row. Once you pull your own bright beets from the soil, cook them up, and feel how good they are for your body, you’ll understand why every gardener should know how to grow beets in the garden and enjoy them all season long.

Monday, December 22, 2025

Good morning. It is Christmas week! Can you believe it? We got a steady stream of orders all weekend. I just printed them out and I daresay I will be busy trying to get as many as I can out in today's mail as well as tomorrow's mail. That will be it until Saturday as USPS now has three days off for Christmas this year.

It is not foggy this morning and the air is rather warm. It is 63° now at 6:30am and the high should be 81°. If you are from up North, it definitely does not feel like Christmas!

We are starting a sale on all of our beans today--enjoy 15% off as you get ready for spring planting! I will be setting up the sale this morning and I'll be sending out a newsletter so if you are not signed up yet, go over to David's Garden Seeds® and sign up to be included in all of our newsletters right now!

Order some bean seeds now while they are on sale and save 15%!

Okay...I just set up the bean sale, sent out a David's Garden Seeds newsletter and then I sent out a newsletter from this website, something I have not done in a long time! I made bacon and breakfast tacos, too. I am feeling productive. Time to get in gear and get ready for the day.

If you would like to come by the Farm Store this week for some last minute Christmas gifts, seeds and onion starts make wonderful gifts. We will be open today and tomorrow from 9am to 5pm and on Wednesday, Christmas Eve, we will be open from 9am until noon. We will be closed the rest of the week and will open again on Monday, December 29 at 9am.

Our onion starts are on sale now for $11.96 for a bunch of 48 in 4 varieties--Red Creole, Yellow Granex, Texas Early White, & Candy.

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Friday, December 26, 2025

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Return from Grow Beets to Year 7 Of Farm Life

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