Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
Days to Maturity: 50–60 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual
Plant Dimensions: Leaf tops to 16" tall
Variety Information: Dark red roots are 2"–3" in diameter and may have candy-striped zoning throughout the interior. 'Bulls Blood' is an excellent variety for the small, tender, beautifully colored tops that are tasty in salads. Burgundy leaf tops are most tender at baby green size. Dark red roots are sweet and flavorful.
Attributes: 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.
