Crop fact sheet · Cool season
Beets
Not in season right now in Houston. Dates below.
Your dates in Houston
| Window | Order seed by | Start indoors | Plant | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Sep 9 | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | from Nov 19 |
| Spring 2027 | Dec 14 | — | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | from Feb 23 |
| Fall 2027 | Sep 9 | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | from Nov 19 |
Worked out from AgriLife planting windows (days before/after average frost) and Houston's average frost dates. "Order seed by" is our own 3-week heads-up, not an AgriLife date.
The numbers
- How to plant
- Sow seed directly 0.5" deep, 2" apart, rows 18" apart.
- Days to harvest
- 50–60 days
- Yield per 10 ft of row
- 15 lb
- Replant every
- 21 days for a steady harvest
- Keeps producing
- about 4.3 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Family
- Amaranthaceae (for rotation)
Water
Water thoroughly once a week if it does not rain. Beets cannot tolerate waterlogged soil; establishment and early growth are the critical periods.
Feeding
- At planting: About 1 cup complete fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-20) per 10 ft of row, mixed 4 inches into the soil.
- Plants 4-6 inches tall: Side-dress about 1 tablespoon per 10 ft of row beside the plants.
Not sure what your soil needs? Get a soil test first.
Texas heat
Beets grow poorly in hot weather. Heat intensifies zoning (light and dark rings in the root), and high heat after a cool period can cause bolting and loss of root color.
Pests to watch
- flea beetles
- webworms
- beet armyworms
- aphids
Diseases
- leaf spot
- downy mildew
- seedling damping-off / seed rot
What to do about them: pest sheet · what's wrong with my plant?
When it's ready
Roots are ready at golf-ball size or larger (about 2 inches); young tops are mild and tender.
Storing it
Refrigerate in plastic bags: tops 1-2 days, roots 1-2 weeks.
Texas tips
- South Texas can grow beets all winter; farther north plant as soon as soil can be worked in spring.
- Each seed ball produces 2-6 plants; thin to 2-3 inches and eat the thinnings as greens.
- In hot weather, cover seed with sand or light-colored mulch. Sandy soil suits spring planting, heavier soil suits fall.
- Make several plantings about 3 weeks apart for a continuous supply.
Varieties that do well in Texas
Chioggia, Detroit Dark Red, Pacemaker II, Red Ace, Ruby Queen