Beetroot is a popular and easy-to-grow crop, ideal for beginners. Also known as beets, these plants take up very little room, especially when harvested young, so are ideal if space is limited, and they can even be grown in containers.
For the best flavour and texture, harvest when the roots are 4–7cm (1⅓–3in) across
Sow small batches of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) regularly from spring through to mid-summer, for continuous harvests from early summer to mid-autumn. Late harvests can be stored for winter use, so you can enjoy home-grown beetroot almost all year round. Ready in as little as 40 days (though usually between 50 and 60), the roots can be harvested any time from the size of a golf ball up to a cricket ball, but don’t let them get much bigger or they may turn woody. These sweet, colourful and nutritious roots are packed with vitamins, minerals and other beneficial compounds. The leaves are edible too, and often tinted or veined with red, providing ornamental appeal.
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Fascinating facts about beetroot
As an avid gardener, I’m always looking to grow new vegetables in my garden patch. Recently, I became interested in growing beetroot from seed. I did some research and learned a lot about beetroot growth timelines that can help guide both beginner and experienced gardeners. In this article, I’ll share everything I learned about how long beetroot takes to grow from seed.
An Overview of Beetroot Growth Stages
Beetroot goes through a few key growth stages on its journey from seed to maturity, Here is a quick overview
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Germination: The seed sprouts and the first seed leaves (cotyledons) emerge. Takes 1-2 weeks.
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Seedling stage: The first true leaves appear and the taproot begins developing. Lasts 2-4 weeks.
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Bulking up: The main growth phase where the taproot expands rapidly. Takes 6-10 weeks depending on variety.
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Maturity The taproot reaches maximum size for the variety Time to harvest!
So in total beetroot can take anywhere from 50-75 days (7-11 weeks) to reach maturity and be ready for harvesting. But let’s take a closer look at the factors that influence the timeline.
Key Factors that Affect Growth Rate
Several variables impact how quickly beetroot goes from seed to harvestable root. The major factors include:
1. Variety
Different beetroot varieties have different maturation times. Early-maturing varieties can be ready in as little as 50 days while late-maturing types take 60 days or longer. When purchasing seeds, check the “days to maturity” and choose quicker varieties if you’re impatient like me!
2. Time of Planting
Beetroot grows best in cool weather. Planting in early spring and fall results in faster maturity compared to summer sowings. Where I live, spring planted beets are ready by mid-summer while fall beets finish before first frost.
3. Soil Conditions
Beetroot thrives in fertile, well-drained, non-acidic soil with plenty of organic matter. Poor soil leads to stressed, undersized plants and slower bulking of the taproots. Prepping the soil properly makes a big difference.
4. Consistent Moisture
Beetroot needs regular water, around 1-2 inches per week. Too little water results in slow growth. Proper mulching helps conserve moisture so beets grow rapidly.
5. Warm Soil Temperature
Beetroot seeds germinate best at soil temperatures around 70°F (21°C). Using something like a cold frame to pre-warm the soil speeds up initial germination and establishment.
Typical Timeline from Seed to Harvest
Now that we’ve covered the key factors, let’s look at a typical timeline for growing beetroot from seed to maturity:
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Days 1-14: The beetroot seed germinates and seedlings emerge. Cotyledons unfold and first true leaves appear.
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Days 15-30: Seedlings grow and become established. The taproot begins developing and starts pushing downwards.
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Days 30-55: The main growth stage where taproot rapidly expands in size. Leaves also grow larger to support root bulking.
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Days 55-75: Taproot reaches maximum diameter for the variety. Lower leaves start dying back. Time to harvest!
Of course, your exact timeline will vary based on your climate, soil, and other factors. Fast-maturing varieties harvested during cool weather could be ready in just 50 days. Slower-growing types sown in mid-summer may take 70+ days.
The key is observing the plants and roots carefully to determine when your beetroot is mature and ready for picking.
Signs Your Beetroot is Ready to Harvest
Waiting too long leads to large but woody roots. Harvesting too early gives undersized beets. Look for these signs that your beetroot is fully mature:
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Taproot diameter reaches expected size for the variety, usually 1-3 inches across
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Taproot shoulders push up out of the soil
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Skin has hardened and resists piercing when squeezed
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Leaves look healthy and vigorous still
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Days to maturity has been reached for the variety
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Exposing taproot to check size shows deep color and solid texture
Once your beets start exhibiting these signs, dig them up and enjoy! They are best harvested when young and tender.
Tips for Faster Beetroot Growth
Here are some useful tips to help speed up beetroot growth:
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Select early-maturing varieties around 50 days
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Start seeds indoors 4 weeks before planting out
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Warm soil to at least 55°F before planting
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Prepare garden bed with compost and organic matter
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Ensure consistent soil moisture through mulching and watering
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Use row covers to boost warmth and growth
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Add balanced organic fertilizer per package directions
Following these best practices for soil, moisture, and warmth gives your beetroot the ideal conditions to reach maturity quickly.
Common Problems That Slow Growth
Some potential issues that can slow down beet growth include:
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Cool soil temperatures below 50°F
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Lack of moisture during germination
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Nutrient deficiencies in poor or unamended soil
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Overcrowding from inadequate spacing or thinning
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Pests like cutworms, slugs, or leaf miners
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Diseases like Cercospora leaf spot, rhizoctonia, or downy mildew
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Extreme summer heat causing bolting and poor growth
Careful monitoring helps avoid or identify these problems early before they slow your beetroot’s progress too much.
Beetroot Growth in Summary
Under optimal conditions, most beet varieties take 7-11 weeks to reach maturity from seed sowing. With the right care and practices, you can harvest plump, tasty beetroot taproots in as little as 50 days!
What and where to buy
You’ll find a wide selection of beetroot seeds in garden centres and from online suppliers. Some offer collections of several different coloured varieties. A few suppliers also sell young plug plants in spring and early summer, ready for planting outdoors.
Delicious, smooth skinned and suitable for early cropping. Good resistance to bolting. The
An early maturing variety with bright red, round roots. Perfect for pickling. The
Italian variety with rounded roots that have striking pink and white rings when sliced. They have a mild flavour.The
Choose a sunny site with fertile soil that drains well and doesn’t become waterlogged. Weed the ground thoroughly, then add plenty of organic matter, such as garden compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage and enriches the soil. Alternatively, if youre practicing no-dig, mulch the surface and sow or plant directly into the mulch. If sowing in early spring, especially in heavy clay soil, it’s best to warm the ground first, for a couple of weeks, using cloches. This shouldn’t be necessary on light, sandy soil, which warms up more rapidly in spring.
Beetroot seeds are large and easy to sow, in most cases made up of a cluster of seeds rather than just one. They are usually sown straight into the ground, from early spring to mid-summer, but can also be sown in modules indoors for an early start.
Top tip
Beetroot seeds can be slow or reluctant to germinate – soaking them in warm water for an hour before sowing should produce better results.
Early sowings can be made indoors, especially in colder areas. Use modular trays filled with peat-free seed compost and sow one seed cluster in the centre of each, at a depth of 2.5cm (1in). If more than one seedling germinates per module, thin out the weaker ones to leave the strongest. Alternatively, to grow clumps of small roots, sow up to four seeds per module and don’t thin out the seedlings. Transplant them outdoors without splitting them up (see Planting).
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Sowing seeds indoors – step by stepHow to use peat-free compost for seeds
Sow beetroot seeds outdoors once the weather starts to warm up in spring and the soil temperature reaches at least 7°C (45°F) – from late March or April through to July. You can sow earlier too if you wish, from late February, but choose a bolt-resistant variety and cover the row with biodegradable fleece or cloches to encourage germination. If you make regular sowings of short rows every few weeks, you’ll have harvests over a long period. After preparing the ground, sow the seeds in drills, 2.5cm (1in) deep, with 30cm (1ft) between rows. Water along the base of the drill, then sow the seeds 10cm (4in) apart – the corky seed clusters are quite large, so are easy to sow individually. Alternatively, sow two or three seeds together, spacing each group 15cm (6in) apart, to produce clusters of smaller roots, ideal for harvesting as baby veg. This option is also useful when space is tight. Cover the seeds with soil, then water the row if the ground is dry.
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Sow directly into containers outside, for an easy to harvest crop of roots and leaves
Growing Beetroots On
Throughout the growing season, sprinkle thin layers of grass clippings around your beetroots every time you mow your grass (assuming you don’t use any weedkillers on your lawn). The clippings will add small amounts of additional nitrogen to the soil, which your beetroot will love, while also helping to retain moisture and keep weeds down.
Beetroot shouldn’t need any additional watering unless the soil looks like it will dry out completely. In hot climates you may find that shade cloth is necessary to prevent bolting in summer.
Beetroot can be harvested two ways: for leaves and for roots. Twist off the young leaves as you need them for salads and sandwiches, but only take a few from each plant or the roots will struggle to fatten up.
The roots can be harvested at any size that suits you, from ‘baby’ beets up to chunky tennis ball size. Don’t leave them in the ground for too long though, as they can become tough and woody.
Harvest the roots by gathering all the leaf stems together in one hand and pulling upwards gently. The root should easily come free from the soil but a hand fork can be used for additional leverage if required, especially with cylindrical varieties. Twist off the leaves, leaving a generous stump of stems on top of the beetroot. Don’t cut the leaves off or trim the roots, or they will ‘bleed’ and make a terrible mess!
How to Grow Beets (From Seed To Harvest)
FAQ
How long do beetroot seeds take to sprout?
Sowing direct outside
Water lightly and the seeds will germinate in 14 – 20 days depending on the temperatures. If it gets really cold the germination could get eradicated so it is best to wait till mid spring to sow the beetroot seeds.
Do beets need full sun?
Beets also require full sun, which is a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily. Beets enjoy warm days and cool nights.Nov 1, 2021
What month is best to plant beetroot?
Sow beetroot seeds outdoors from mid-April to late June, into a shallow drill, 1cm deep. Space seeds 10cm apart, with 30cm between rows.Nov 23, 2023
How long does it take to grow beets?
Beets are a root crop that takes around three to four months to mature. It is relatively easy to grow the crop, provided you plant it in cultivated, well-drained soil. You can sow them in the tray and transplant them when you see seedlings popping two true leaves. Now, you can take the healthy seedlings and leave behind the weaker ones.
Can you grow beets from seed?
Growing beets is also easy and they are a crop that can be planted multiple times a year. Growing beets from seed is a rewarding experience that can yield a bountiful harvest of these delicious and nutritious root vegetables. However, to get started, you need to know how to germinate beet seeds properly. Here’s everything you need to know:
How long does it take a beet seed to sprout?
Days 10-14: Seedlings continue growing new leaves. Thin again if needed to final spacing. If conditions are ideal, most beet seeds will complete germination within 7-10 days. But it can take up to 2 weeks for more reluctant seeds to sprout. If your beet seeds are dragging their feet, there are a few tricks to spur faster sprouting:
How do you grow beetroot?
To grow beetroot, plant the seeds in a sunny spot and sow them 2 cm (¾-1 in) deep and 10-15 cm (4-6 in) apart. Then, water the seeds daily until they sprout. Select either seeds or seedlings. These should be readily available from your local nursery or garden center. Don’t shy away from seeds – beetroot is notoriously easy to take care of.
How long does it take a beet to germinate?
Beets will germinate in 5-6 days at 60-75°F as long as the soil is kept consistently moist. The best soil for growing beets should also be well-drained and crumbles easily. Since the seed shells are so hard, even though you soaked them overnight, it is still a good idea to keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
How many sprouts will grow from one beet seed?
Each beet seed will grow several sprouts, which will need to be thinned. Beet seeds will usually germinate within 5 to 7 days in warm soil, but can take up to two weeks when the soil is cool. Soaking beet seeds in water for 12 to 24 hours prior to planting will help them sprout faster.