Usually direct sown as soon as soil can be worked but may be started indoors. Summer sowing after mid July are generally poor. If you like, when direct sowing, mix beet seeds with fast-sprouting radish seeds to mark the rows. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, plant out 2 weeks before frost. For fall harvest, transplant 10 weeks before first frost, without additional protection. In a hoophouse, you can plant 2-3 weeks later. Sow every 3-4 weeks for consistent supply. Harvest beets when 2–3” for best sweet flavor. Beets can grow large and get woody if left in the field. All parts of the beet plant are edible. Soil pH 5.6-7.0. Hardiness zones 8. Biennial.
Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 2,800 seeds per ounce. Average 436M seeds per acre. Federal germination standard: 65%. Usual seed life: 6 years. Isolation distance for seed saving: 5 miles.
Planting Depth 1/2”
Soil Temp. Germ. 50-85˚F
Days to Germ. 5-10
Plant Spacing 3-4”
Row Spacing 12-18”
Days To Maturity 50–60
Full Sun, Moist Well Drained
Crosby's Egyptian Seed Count
1 Ounce ≈ 2,465 seeds
.25 Pound ≈ 9,861 seeds
1 Pound ≈ 39,443 seeds