When to Plant Beet (2026)
Two crops in one — roots and greens. Sow before the last frost.
- Type: Cool-season
- Method: Direct sow
- Days to harvest: 55
- Spacing: 4" apart
- Sun: Full sun to part shade
- Companions: onion, lettuce, kale
Is Beet right for your USDA zone?
Beet is a cool-season crop, which means it thrives in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. Gardeners in zones 3a through 7b get the longest beet season — you can plant in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. In warmer zones (8a-10b), grow beet as a winter crop from October through February when temperatures are coolest.
Beet needs about 55 days from sowing to harvest, so any zone with at least 69frost-free days can grow it successfully. Check your zone's specific dates in the table below.
Beet planting dates by zone (2026)
| Zone | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | Apr 17 | Jun 11 |
| Zone 3b | — | Apr 17 | Jun 11 |
| Zone 4a | — | Apr 12 | Jun 6 |
| Zone 4b | — | Apr 7 | Jun 1 |
| Zone 5a | — | Apr 2 | May 27 |
| Zone 5b | — | Mar 28 | May 22 |
| Zone 6a | — | Mar 23 | May 17 |
| Zone 6b | — | Mar 18 | May 12 |
| Zone 7a | — | Mar 13 | May 7 |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 8 | May 2 |
| Zone 8a | — | Feb 25 | Apr 21 |
| Zone 8b | — | Feb 15 | Apr 11 |
| Zone 9a | — | Jan 28 | Mar 24 |
| Zone 9b | — | Jan 13 | Mar 9 |
| Zone 10a | — | Jan 3 | Feb 27 |
| Zone 10b | — | Dec 18 | Feb 11 |