When to plant beets
Beets tolerate frost, so sow outdoors 1–4 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 45°F.
Beets dates for Columbus, Ohio (example)
Example dates. Enter your ZIP above for your own.
| Sow outdoors | Mar 23 – Apr 13 |
|---|---|
| Sow for fall harvest | Aug 15–29 |
| Last planting for a harvest before frost | Sep 3 |
| Soil temperature | 45°F or warmer |
| Days to harvest | 50–65 |
| Spacing | thin to 3–4 in apart |
Your beet year
- Sow outdoors
- Sow for fall harvest
Average last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 24.
Growing tips for beets
- Each beet "seed" is a cluster of several seeds, so thinning is essential.
- Thinned seedlings are good eating as baby greens.
- Roots get woody if they mature in hot weather; harvest at 1.5–3 in.
For a steady harvest, sow every 3 weeks: see the succession planting calculator.
When to plant beets in major cities
Calculated from each city's NOAA 1991–2020 average frost dates.
| City | Zone | Plant / sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 7b | Mar 2–23 | Sep 11–25 |
| Chicago, IL | 6b | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 10b | Dec 28 – Jan 18 | Oct 6–20 |
| Houston, TX | 9b | Jan 5–26 | Oct 16–30 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 10a | Dec 8–29 | Oct 25 – Nov 8 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 7b | Mar 2–23 | Sep 8–22 |
| Dallas, TX | 8b | Feb 2–23 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Atlanta, GA | 8a | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Seattle, WA | 9a | Feb 13 – Mar 6 | Sep 8–22 |
| Denver, CO | 6a | Apr 2–23 | Aug 3–17 |
| Boston, MA | 7a | Mar 7–28 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 5a | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Aug 7–21 |
| Kansas City, MO | 6b | Mar 7–28 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Nashville, TN | 7b | Mar 4–25 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Portland, OR | 9a | Jan 28 – Feb 18 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 7b | Mar 3–24 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Columbus, OH | 6b | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Aug 15–29 |
| Charlotte, NC | 8a | Mar 2–23 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Detroit, MI | 6b | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Raleigh, NC | 8a | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
Beets planting FAQ
When should I plant beets?
Beets tolerate frost, so sow outdoors 1–4 weeks before the last frost; for a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Plant when the soil is at least 45°F.
How many days until beets are ready to harvest?
Most beet varieties take about 50–65 days from sowing. Check the seed packet: early varieties are at the low end.
Can beets survive frost?
Yes. Beets tolerate frost and light freezes, which is why they can be planted weeks before the last frost date.
How far apart should I plant beets?
Space beets thin to 3–4 in apart.
What is the last date I can plant beets?
Count the variety's days to maturity back from your first fall frost, allowing a week or two extra because beets tolerate light frost. Enter your ZIP code on this page and Seasonwise calculates the date for you.
Ask about growing beets
Enter your ZIP above first and answers will use your local frost dates. Written by an AI model; double-check anything important.