Can You Start Beets Indoors? A Complete Guide to Success

Beets are a cold-weather crop that I look forward to growing in both spring and fall. Not only are beets a hearty root vegetable, but the tops are edible as well. They also grow quite fast, so you can enjoy beets before many other crops. If you want to grow beets in your garden, here’s everything you need to know.

You can also download my How Do I Grow Beets? one-sheet and keep the free resource handy for your reference.

The garden beet, table beet, red beet or just plain beet is a cultivar of Beta vulgaris, which means it is the same species as Swiss chard and the sugar beet. In the United States and Canada, both the plant as a whole and the taproot itself are referred to as “beet,” while in the United Kingdom the taproot is known as “beetroot.”

Beets can be roasted, boiled, grilled, baked or pickled. Slice them, grate them, cut them into wedges, or chop them like French fries. Beets go great in salads or atop a specialty pizza, and beets served alone or tossed with goat cheese make for a delectable appetizer or side dish. And don’t forget borscht, the Ukrainian beet soup. Plus the beet tops, aka beet greens, can be sautéed or added to soup.

Beets come in all shades of red and there are newer varieties that are yellow or white on the inside. You can have quite the rainbow in your garden and on your plate.

Where, When & How to Plant Beets

I plant beets around the perimeter of my leafy greens beds to make the most efficient use of the space. If you want to grow an abundance of beets, you can dedicate even more space to the crop. Beets can be planted fairly densely, but don’t pack them in too tightly, as they will not grow to their full potential if overcrowded.

Choose a planting location with well-drained soil that has a pH between 6.5 and 6.8. Amend the soil prior to planting time with compost to improve its tilth and fertility. Beets also require full sun, which is a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily.

Beets enjoy warm days and cool nights. Growers in milder climates have better luck with beets, but you can grow beets almost anywhere in the United States and Canada if you plant at the right time. If you practice succession planting, you will have a few tries within the same year to get the timing down.

For a fall crop, direct sow beet seeds 10 to 12 weeks before the first frost. You can continue with weekly succession plantings until four weeks before the frost date. The seeds will germinate in about five days. In spring, sow three weeks before the last frost, or as soon as the soil can be worked. Beets can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40° though it may take longer than five days. Soaking beet seeds for an hour or overnight in warm (not hot!) water before planting can speed up the germination process. Continue spring succession plantings until the air temperature reaches 80°.

Beet seeds are rather large, and that’s because they are multigerms. Each one is actually a cluster that contains between two and five seeds. You don’t need to break the cluster apart, but you will need to thin the seedlings.

Sow a half-inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart. Once they germinate and grow to 3 or 4 inches tall, thin the seedlings to one plant every 3 to 4 inches. (Enjoy the thinned plants as beet greens.) When the plants reach 5 inches tall, apply a layer of 2 to 3 inches of light, organic mulch, such as shredded leaves or straw, to suppress weeds and improve moisture retention. The mulch will also keep the sun off the tops of the beetroots so they don’t turn green, which negatively affects flavor. And as the organic mulch breaks down, it will improve the soil.

You can also start beet seeds indoors or in a greenhouse. This is a great option if your garden is short on space. Then when you harvest other crops, fill in the gaps with the seedlings that are ready to go. Use sterile seed starting mix and plant a single seed cluster per cell, and thin seedlings to one per cell when the time comes. If growing indoors, use a seedling heat mat to warm the soil to between 60° and 85° to speed up germination. Use a grow light so the seedlings don’t stretch out in search of sun. When transplanting into the garden, take care not to disturb the roots.

Beet seeds are sold by the individual variety or as “rainbow” mixes. Mixing up the varieties that you grow will add color to the garden and will also result in different harvest times for beets that were planted at the same time. Staggered harvests are great for enjoying fresh beets for weeks on end.

Avalance is an open-pollinated white beet, inside and out, with green stems. It is an All-America Selections winner that matures in 55 days. The root diameter is 2 to 3 inches at maturity.

Boldor is a variety of golden beet. The 2-inch roots are brilliant yellow inside. The tops are green. Boldor is known for good germination and sweet flavor. It matures in 55 days.

Chioggia is an Italian heirloom beet with red and white circles inside. The 2-inch roots are round and semi-flat. The tops are green with streaks of purple on the stems. It’s ready to harvest in 65 days.

Early Wonder Tall Top is a fast-growing open-pollinated variety that matures, on average, in just 45 days, though the rate of maturity is inconsistent from one to the next. It loves the cool soil of early spring. The deep red globes grow to be 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Its green leaves have purple stems and veins.

Red Ace is a hybrid with high disease resistance and uniform round roots that are best picked at 3 to 4 inches. It’s ready for harvest in 55 days, and the green tops with bright red stems are excellent beet greens.

Ruby Queen is an open-pollinated beet with 3.5-inch round roots that are deep red inside with pink rings. Sow thickly to enjoy more of the tasty beet greens after thinning. Matures in 65 days.

Subeto is an organic, smooth-skinned red beet that matures in 50 days. The stems are purple and the leaves are green. The round taproot is mature at 1.5 inches.

Zeppo is a hybrid variety with uniform, round roots that mature in 50 days at 2 inches in diameter. The deep red roots have a mild flavor.

Beets like moist but not soaked soil. An inch per week, between rainfall and supplemental watering, will do the trick if your soil is rich in organic matter and well drained. Beets’ taproots grow high, sticking well out of the ground, so water gently to avoid washing the soil away. To test if your beets require more water, use the finger test. If you push your finger straight down into the soil all the way and it comes out clean, it’s time to water. If soil sticks to the tip of your finger, hold off on watering and test again in a couple of days.

If you planted beets in soil that is rich in organic matter and well amended with compost, your beets are off to a great start. For supplemental fertilizer, avoid high-nitrogen chemical fertilizers that will result in more leaf growth but smaller taproots. The leaves are important because they capture solar energy through photosynthesis and help the roots grow. But if there is an abundance of nitrogen, the leaves will grow large at the expense of the root.

Choose an organic granular or liquid fertilizer that is low in nitrogen or well balanced. Look at the NPK ratio — N for nitrogen, P for phosphorus, K for potassium — and make sure the first number is less than or about equal to the other two.

Fertilize for the first time when the beets sprout, and again a month later. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying fertilizer. More is not better and can even be detrimental.

Starting Beet Seeds in Containers for Better Results

FAQ

Can beets be started indoors and transplanted?

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.

Can you start beets in trays?

They were sown 4 seeds per cell and transplanted out in bunches of 4+ seedlings. This is the first year that I’ve had consistent, uniform growth in my beets patch. I will no longer sow beet seeds directly, and only start them indoors in a cell tray.

When to start beets seeds indoors?

• Timing:

  • Indoors: Start beet seeds indoors in mid-winter (around January) to late winter (February). 

  • Transplanting: Transplant the seedlings outdoors in late winter or very early spring. 

  • Considerations: This timing allows the beets to establish before the hot summer temperatures set in. 

• Why start indoors?

  • Head Start: Starting indoors gives your beets a head start, allowing them to grow larger before being transplanted outdoors. 

  • Control: You can control the environment (temperature, light) during the germination and early growth stages, which can lead to stronger seedlings. 

• Beet Seedlings:

  • Thinning: Beets seeds are actually pods, so you may get multiple seedlings from one pod. Thin the seedlings to one per container. 

  • Spacing: When transplanting, space the beets 6 inches apart. 

• General Tips:

  • Temperature: The ideal germination temperature for beets is between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. 

  • Containers: Use high-quality seed-starting mix. 

  • Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. 

  • Light: Provide adequate light, either through grow lights or a sunny window. 

• Alternative Approach:

  • Fall Planting: You can also start beet seeds indoors in mid-summer and transplant them when the cooler temperatures of fall arrive. 

• Direct Sow:

  Beets can also be directly sown as soon as the soil can be worked, which could be March for you. 

How do you start beetroot indoors?

Sowing indoors

Use modular trays filled with 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.

Can you grow beet seeds indoors?

Many gardeners direct sow beet seeds right into the garden bed. However, you can get a head start on the season by starting beet seeds indoors. Growing beets indoors allows you to extend the harvest, produce earlier crops, and get higher germination rates. But beets do have some special considerations when it comes to indoor seed starting

When should I start growing beets indoors?

The ideal time to start growing beets indoors is about 2-3 weeks before the last average frost date in spring. This timing allows for a steady growing temperature, which can help the plants thrive. How do you harvest beet greens without harming the beetroot?

How do I start beets indoors?

When it comes to starting beets indoors, the type of soil you choose is an important factor in whether or not your plants will thrive. Beets prefer a soil that is well-drained, high in organic matter, and nutrient-rich. Here are some tips for selecting the best soil for starting beets indoors. Choose soil that drains well:

Why should you plant beets indoors?

Extended Growing Season: Indoor sowing allows you to extend the growing season for beets, giving you a longer window to enjoy fresh produce. Control Over Conditions: By starting indoors, you have better control over temperature, light, and moisture, leading to healthier seedlings.

Can you grow beets in a container garden?

Beets (Beta vulgaris) make ideal candidates for an indoor container garden. Beets have a relatively short growing season and are ready to harvest within 40-65 days, depending on the variety. Beet seeds usually get planted outdoors in early spring, and the seedlings often need frost protection with a cold frame or row cover.

Can beets grow outside?

Beets prefer full sun, but can tolerate some shade. Plant them in rows or clusters, about 4-6 inches apart. To ensure your beets get the best start, harden them off before transplanting them outdoors. This means gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over the course of a week or two.