Beet is grown for its root, ready to pull about 60 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
60
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What Beet is
Beet reaches around a foot and a half at maturity.
How to grow Beet
Beet grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. Beet does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,100 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 160 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
60 days
Swiss chard convention (B. vulgaris); cut-and-come-again.
OSU-PNW; Cornell
GDD Required
1100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
160+
plant_species_v5.csv
Sow directly
Sow beet seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them full sun.
Match the soil
Beet prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Beet is ready about 60 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — beet isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Beet isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Beet thrives
On hardiness alone, beet grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Beet growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Beet can grow in these states:
See if Beet will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether beet actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Beet in my zone?
Beet grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Beet take to grow?
Beet is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Cornell). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Beet?
Most growers plant beet after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 160-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Beet need?
Beet needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Beet need?
Beet prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Beet attract pollinators?
Beet isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Beet safe for pets?
Beet is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.