Beets — FarmPal
Two crops in one sweet roots and nutritious greens. Incredibly versatile.
Sun
full
Water
moderate
Spacing
3-4 inches apart (thin clusters)
Days to Harvest
Baby: 35-40 days. Full size: 55-70 days
Planting Depth
1/2 inch deep
Companion Plants
Onions
Lettuce
Cabbage
Garlic
Bush beans
Avoid Planting Near
Pole beans
Field mustard
Common Pests
Leaf miners
Aphids
Flea beetles
Diseases to Watch
Cercospora leaf spot
Downy mildew
Scab
Growing Tips
- •Each "seed" is actually a cluster thin to strongest seedling
- •Soak seeds overnight to speed germination
- •Plant every 3 weeks for continuous harvest
- •Don't overlook beet greens more nutritious than roots!
- •Mulch to keep soil cool and moist
Harvesting
- •Harvest greens anytime outer leaves first
- •Pull roots at 1.5-3 inches diameter for best tenderness
- •Larger roots get woody don't let them overgrow
- •Leave 1 inch of stems when cutting greens to prevent bleeding
Storage
Root cellar 3-5 months. Pickle or can. Greens: eat fresh or freeze.
Varieties
Detroit Dark Red
Classic round red beet. Reliable. Sweet.
Chioggia
Stunning red and white concentric rings. Italian heirloom.
Golden
Yellow flesh. Doesn't stain! Mild, sweet.
Cylindra
Long cylindrical shape. Uniform slices. Great for pickling.
Bull's Blood
Gorgeous deep red leaves. Grown for greens.