Are Beets Easy to Grow?

Beets are nutritious, easy-to-grow garden vegetables.

Beets are one of the few vegetables in which the entire plant is used. The leafy tops are a good source of vitamin A, and can be eaten either fresh in salads or cooked, and the roots contain vitamin C and can be cooked on the stove top or roasted. Ready, fresh from the garden in under 60 days, beets are an easy-to-grow garden vegetable.

Planting

Begin planting seeds directly into the garden 30 days before the average last frost date for the area; beets enjoy the cooler weather. Plant 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart, spacing the rows 12 to 18 inches apart. For an ongoing supply of beets during the entire growing season, plant seeds every four weeks until midsummer. Plant in full sun, in well-drained soil. Add organic material to clay soil to help reduce the top level from crusting and slowing the seedlings' progress.

Care

Remove weeds as soon as they sprout, and hand weed only as tools or deep weeding may damage the shallow vegetable roots. Mulching the bed will help with weed control, and will allow the garden to maintain moisture and assist at preventing soil crusting. Beets need continuous growth to mature, so ensure the moisture level is kept consistent and water regularly during dry spells. Apply a 5-10-10 fertilizer when seeds are planted, and again when the seedlings reach 3 inches.

Harvesting

Beets can be harvested at any time during the growing season. The tops are best when they reach a height of 6 inches and roots are best at 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Beets that exceed 3 inches may become tough and fibrous. Beets can survive long-term storage provided they have cool, near-freezing conditions and high humidity. Before storing, cut the tops off 1 inch above the root

Nutrition and Preparation

Beets are high in dietary fiber, with 1.5 g in a 1 cup serving, and high in folate, a heart disease and anemia fighter. A single serving of beets also provides 1.5 g of protein and is just 31 calories. Beets can be boiled, roasted, steamed and eaten raw. To prepare beets for cooking, avoid breaking the skin when washing as skin damage may cause nutrition to leach out. Once cooked, the skin falls off with ease.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow
• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Beets in the Home Garden; Pamela J. Bennett