Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris
Days to Maturity: 15–25 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual
Variety Information: Medium green leaves with red stems and an earthy flavor.
When to Sow Outside: Not recommended. Microgreens are fragile, and outside soil makes them difficult to clean.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. Sow indoors any time of year. For a continual crop, sow every 7 to 14 days.
Days to Emerge: 5–8 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: ½"
Thinning: Not required
Harvesting: When seedlings emerge, the first pair of leaves to show are the cotyledons, which can look very different from the leaves that follow, called "true" leaves. Beet microgreens are ready to harvest 15 to 25 days after sowing, when they have cotyledons, or when the first true leaves have begun to form, depending on preference. Cool growing temperatures may slow the expected amount of days to maturity. Using scissors, cut microgreens just above the soil line when you are ready to use them.
