When to plant beets by zone
Beta vulgaris is a cool-season crop that is semi-hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Beets planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 15 – Feb 28.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | May 8 – Jun 19 | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | May 8 – Jun 19 | — |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jun 23 – Jul 7 |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | Apr 29 – Jun 10 | Jun 25 – Jul 9 |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | May 14 – Jun 25 | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | May 3 – Jun 14 | Jul 10 – Jul 24 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | Apr 21 – Jun 2 | Jul 19 – Aug 2 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | Apr 14 – May 26 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 25 | Jul 25 – Aug 8 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 25 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | Apr 13 – May 25 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | Apr 5 – May 17 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Mar 20 – May 1 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 22 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Mar 1 – Apr 12 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Feb 18 – Apr 1 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Jan 22 – Mar 5 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Jan 5 – Feb 16 | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Jan 6 – Feb 17 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| 11a | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Sep 15 – Feb 28 | |||
Growing tips
- Each seed is a cluster — thin to one seedling.
- Greens are edible at every stage.
- Beets tolerate light frost and store well in cool soil.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry