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Beetroot

Beta vulgaris · Beet in the US

In a typical UK garden, sow indoors late February to late March, sow outside late March to early August, plant out late March to mid-April, and harvest early June to mid-November.

When to sow, plant and harvest

Last frost around 20 April, first frost around 31 October.

Sow indoors
late February to late March
Sow outdoors
late March to early August
Plant out
late March to mid-April
Harvest
early June to mid-November
Spacing
10 cm apart, rows 30 cm apart
Square foot
9 per square (30 cm squares)
Sowing depth
2.5 cm
Ready in
50 to 70 days from sowing
Grows to
30 cm
Hardiness
Hardy to about -5 °C
Sun
Full sun
Crops for
About 8 weeks

Growing tip

Each seed is really a cluster, so thin the seedlings early to leave the strongest.

Neighbours

Roots are one crop rotation group. Try not to grow them where any of the family grew in the last two or three years. How crop rotation works

Guides

When to plant

Beetroot is easy to sow, as long as you thin it early

Sow beetroot outdoors from late March to early August, a short row every three or four weeks for a steady supply. You can also sow in modules indoors from late February. Roots are ready 50 to 70 days after sowing and keep coming until mid-November.

More roots

Where these figures come from

Every crop in VegLog was checked against published growing advice. Dates are worked out from average frost dates, so they shift with your garden. For beetroot, we used:

Grow beetroot with VegLog

Add beetroot to a bed and VegLog reminds you when to sow, plant out and pick, timed to your own town's frost dates.