How to Grow Beets

General

Beets produce tasty roots for baking and boiling, with the fresh greens to boil or steam. Use beets raw in salads (pickled of course), boiled with sauces, baked with other root vegetables, or in soups. The roots have many health benefits and the greens are even more nutritious, containing minerals, vitamins and fiber. Plant beets early for the best flavor. Beets are a wonderful addition to any edible landscape or backyard garden.

Latin

Beta vulgaris subsp. esculenta.
Chenopodiaceae Family.

Difficulty

Easy.

Season & Zone

Season: Cool Season
Exposure: Full-sun or partial-shade
Zone: Unknown zone.

Planting Seeds

Sow 1cm (0.5") deep, about 2cm (1") apart. For Farms: 100' rows using 42 grams. For Acres: 4kg, with a row spacing of 30-38cm (12-14").

Seeds will germinate in 5-12 days depending on soil temperature. For uniformly sized beets, thin carefully to 7-15cm (3-5") apart when seedlings are 5cm (2") tall. Eat thinnings, roots and all. Root size is controlled by spacing and variety.

In optimum conditions at least 75% of seeds will germinate. Sow outdoors (do not raise transplants) late April to mid-July on the Coast. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold. Seed life: 3 years

Preparing Soil

Beets are moderate feeders so plant in deeply dug, composted soil and water regularly-dry soil will increase the amount of zoning (pale rings in the beet). Mix 1/2 cup of complete organic fertilizer (p.81) per 1.5-3m (5-10') of row into the soil below the seed furrow. Adding dolomite lime to the soil will raise the pH. The ideal pH is between 6.5 and 7. Do not plant beets in the same bed as potatoes.

Planting

Sow outdoors late April to mid-July on the Coast. Beets will not produce roots if planted when the soil is too cold.

Diseases & Pests

If beets have black rough-spots on the roots (scabs), soil may need more boron. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of borax (in laundry section of grocery store) to 4 litres of water. Spread evenly over 9sq m (100sq ft) of soil. Do not apply at heavier rate. This should bring your PH level nearer to neutral (7.0) Circular lesions with a purple halo on the leaf is cercospora leaf spot. Rotate this crop every two years, keep the area clean and beets watered.

Harvest

Harvest at any size, but for the best flavour, pull the beets as soon as they have reached full-size. Eat the greens too. Store in the ground, or in moist peat or sand just above freezing.