Beet

Vegetable

8 Available

11 Total Packets

6 Organic

Days to maturity: 50-60 days

Days to germinate: 7

Optimum temp range: 50–85

Min / Max temp: 40°F – 95°F

Start indoors: 21-Mar – 4-Apr

Growing Information

Beets - Key Growing Information
CULTURE:
First-rate crops grow quickly in light or loamy soils with a pH over 6.0. In general, cool temperatures produce the best flesh color. Acute weather fluctuations will cause zoning (white rings) in the roots.
DAYS TO MATURITY:
From direct seeding; subtract 14–21 days if transplants are used.
TRANSPLANTING:
Sow seed in a cold frame or indoors in early spring, about 5-6 weeks before transplanting out after heavy frosts become infrequent. Sow 1/2" deep, 2–3 seeds per cell in 72- or 128-cell flats. Transplant 3" apart in rows 12–18" apart. Beets transplanted using this method may not be as uniform as direct-seeded beets, and taproots will tangle, requiring the harvester to gently pull out the root while holding back the rest. However, transplanted beets can bring earlier harvests if poor weather conditions persist and interfere with direct seeding.
DIRECT SEEDING:
Begin early sowings when soil has warmed to 45°F (7°C). Sow 15 seeds/ft. 1/2" deep, rows 12–18" apart. Thin to 1 plant per 3". For a continuous supply of greens and small tender beets, sow seed at 2-week intervals until 8 weeks before regular heavy frosts are expected.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1M/66', 5M/333', 436M/acre at 15 seeds/ft. and 18" between rows.
DISEASE:
Keep beets well-irrigated to prevent scab, the same disorder that affects potatoes, causing raised brown rough spots on the mature roots. Internal breakdown or browning is most likely to occur in alkaline soils after prolonged hot, dry periods. This is caused by a boron deficiency. Rotate crops to prevent Cercospora leaf spot, which is especially important for bunching and baby-leaf beets.
HARVEST:
Harvest when roots reach desired size.
STORAGE:
For Fresh Market: Wash and store bunches up to 10 days at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity. For Winter Storage: Cut tops, wash, and store roots up to 6 months at 32°F (0°C) and 95% humidity.

Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds →

My Notes

Your Packets 11

	Cultivar	Company	DTM	Organic	Amount Left	Expires	Status
	Boulder	Fedco	—		Half an oz	2026	OK
	Boulder	Fedco	—		1 oz	2026	OK
	Chioggia Guardsmark ▾	Johnny's	55 days	Yes	100 seeds	—	OK
Highest-quality Chioggia strain available. Certified organic heirloom beet with distinctive red and white ringed interior. 55 days View on Johnny's →
	Detroit Dark Red Short Top ▾	Fedco	60 days		1 oz	2026	OK
Globular smooth uniform beets with tender oxblood-red flesh. “New varieties come and go, but the Detroit Dark Red, year after year maintains its popularity and holds its place right at the top of the list of good midseason varieties,” asserted Stark Bros. catalog in 1921. Introduced 1892 and still the standard late variety for home gardeners and canners. In catalog editor Elisabeth’s beet patch of four varieties, voles gobbled up all the Detroit Darks first—the ultimate taste test. Among the several strains of this century-old variety, this one had the best roots in our evaluation. ② Family-owned companies or cooperatives, domestic and foreign ④ Multinational corporations not to our knowledge engaged in genetic engineering 60 days View on Fedco →
	Detroit Dark Red Short Top ▾	Fedco	60 days		1 oz	2026	OK
Globular smooth uniform beets with tender oxblood-red flesh. “New varieties come and go, but the Detroit Dark Red, year after year maintains its popularity and holds its place right at the top of the list of good midseason varieties,” asserted Stark Bros. catalog in 1921. Introduced 1892 and still the standard late variety for home gardeners and canners. In catalog editor Elisabeth’s beet patch of four varieties, voles gobbled up all the Detroit Darks first—the ultimate taste test. Among the several strains of this century-old variety, this one had the best roots in our evaluation. ② Family-owned companies or cooperatives, domestic and foreign ④ Multinational corporations not to our knowledge engaged in genetic engineering 60 days View on Fedco →
	Lutz Green Leaf ▾	Fedco	60 days	Yes	—	2026	OK
For some years after Lutz became crossed up, true seed was hard to find. Insist on the real McCoy: you’ll find it here. True Lutz sports glossy green tops without any purple. Though the roots will never win any beauty contests, bake the big beets for about an hour to enjoy a very special sweet treat. You’ll have Lutz of luck getting them to grow lustily if you provide them with plenty of mellow compost, sow your seeds farther apart than for other beet varieties, and thin the roots to 4" apart. Heirloom variety from Europe, also known as Winter Keeper, is the best beet to grow for winter storage. standards in addition to the federal germination standards. Discounted item sales are final and ineligible for refund or 60 days View on Fedco →
	Red Ace F1 ▾	Johnny's	50 days		100 seeds	2027	OK
Workhorse standard red beet; reliable, adaptable, and fast-maturing. Medium-tall, red-veined greens suitable for bunching. 50 days View on Johnny's →
	Touchstone Gold ▾	Johnny's	55 days	Yes	150 seeds	—	OK
Smooth golden roots with intensely colored yellow flesh retain their color when cooked. Excellent, sweet flavor. Very good germination for a golden beet. 55 days View on Johnny's →
	Formonova	High Mowing	—	Yes	1 oz	2025	Expired
	Lutz Green Leaf ▾	Fedco	60 days	Yes	~0.5 oz	2023	Expired
For some years after Lutz became crossed up, true seed was hard to find. Insist on the real McCoy: you’ll find it here. True Lutz sports glossy green tops without any purple. Though the roots will never win any beauty contests, bake the big beets for about an hour to enjoy a very special sweet treat. You’ll have Lutz of luck getting them to grow lustily if you provide them with plenty of mellow compost, sow your seeds farther apart than for other beet varieties, and thin the roots to 4" apart. Heirloom variety from Europe, also known as Winter Keeper, is the best beet to grow for winter storage. standards in addition to the federal germination standards. Discounted item sales are final and ineligible for refund or 60 days View on Fedco →
	Shiraz	High Mowing	—	Yes	1/2 oz	2025	Expired