“Beets or “beet roots” are a colorful, cool-season crop that is easy to grow from seed in well-prepared soil—and grows quickly in bright sun. They are a great choice for northern gardeners because they can survive frost and near-freezing temperatures.” (Source: Farmer’s Almanac)

No garden seems complete without beets.  When I was growing up and just learning to garden with my Daddy, all beets were dark red and had lovely red splatters of color on the green tops.  Today, 50+ years later, you can choose from a golden beet, red beet with purple stems, white beet, and even a candy-striped pink beet.

Always direct sow beets. I typically plant in rows about two to three weeks before the last average frost in spring. If you like a lot of beets, you can do succession plantings every three weeks until temperatures reach 80°F.

Plant your beet seeds 1/2-inch deep and 1 to 2 inches apart in rows that are about 1 ft apart.

Beets are easy to grow. Just pull the weeds without disturbing the beet root and they provide many wonderful meals.

• When the beet reaches about the size of an acorn, pull the young beet and top and you have fresh greens.  It is like having greens with a cherry on top.  Beets have their own sweet taste and add great texture and taste to a salad.

• Full-grown beets can be chopped for salads, pickled, baked then skinned and served with some fresh dill from the garden.  You can preserve them by pickling, canning or freezing and they retain their taste and texture. 

  • Tip: When freezing, I like to use seal-a-meal vacuum bags and freeze the quantity needed for a meal per bag.

  • Tip: When boiling to peel, if you want to keep the gorgeous color, be sure to leave ½ inch or so of top and don’t take off the root… this keeps the beet from “bleeding”.

Yesterday I found a container of beets and carrots in the freezer from last year’s garden.  I placed it in the microwave for a few minutes and they were just as good as they were at our Christmas dinner.  Let me know if you want this delicious recipe, which happens to be very low carb.

This year I am planting a couple favorites around March 25. The bed will have a protective cover. We’ll post pictures when the bed is planted.

1. Detroit Dark Red: always produces and has great taste and texture

2. Rainbow Mix: this will provide a variety of flavors and sweetness

Beet tip of the day… Keep beets well-watered as drought will result in tough or woody beets. With raised beds, this is a simple task.

“I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to being present at creation.” — Phyllis Theroux, Essayist & Author

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Do you have gardening questions? Ask our experts in the comments section below. They’d love to share their knowledge with you!