Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
Days to Maturity: 50 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual
Plant Dimensions: Leaves to 12" tall
Variety Information: Roots are best harvested at 1"–3" round, but will continue to get larger if allowed. White beets lack the pigment betalain, which imparts an earthy flavor as well as red or yellow color. 'Avalanche' is a 2015 All-America Selections award winner. Plants are resistant to Cercospora and leaf spot.
Attributes: Disease Resistant, Good for Containers
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°–85°F, for early summer crop. 6 to 8 weeks before your average first fall frost date for late summer/fall crop. Mild Climates: Sow fall through winter.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended. Root disturbance delays maturity.
Days to Emerge: 5 – 21 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: 1 seed every 4"
Row Spacing: 12"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 4"
Harvesting: For early spring sowings, harvest beets before summer heat. For late summer sowings, harvest before first heavy freeze. For winter sowings in mild climates, harvest in early spring. Harvest when roots are anywhere from 1"-3" in diameter. The smaller they are, the more tender. Greens are most tender when small, so start harvesting when they are 2" tall. You can take as much as one third of a beet plant's outer leaves without harming the root crop.
