When to plant beets
Short answer
Plant beets about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Mar 25. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | Dec 25 | Feb 18 |
| Zone 2 | — | Jan 25 | Mar 21 |
| Zone 3 | — | Feb 17 | Apr 13 |
| Zone 4 | — | Mar 9 | May 3 |
| Zone 5 | — | Mar 25 | May 19 |
| Zone 6 | — | Apr 9 | Jun 3 |
| Zone 7 | — | Apr 24 | Jun 18 |
| Zone 8 | — | May 11 | Jul 5 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Beets is a semi-hardy crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for beets
When to plant beets comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Beets is a semi-hardy crop, so it goes in about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Mar 25.
Beets is usually sown straight into the ground — no indoor start needed. From there it's roughly 55 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for beets ranges from about Feb 17 in warm zone 3 to Apr 24 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Beets is semi-hardy — it goes in before the last frost |
| Indoor start | Direct-sow — no indoor start needed |
| Days to harvest | About 55 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Tolerates cool soil and light frost |
How beets compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Beets | Mar 25 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing beets
- Start beets early — it tolerates cool soil and a light frost, so you can plant before your last spring frost.
- Count roughly 55 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for beets dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant beets?
Plant beets about 3 weeks before your last spring frost. In a warmer zone 4 that's around Mar 9; in a colder zone 6, Apr 9.
Can I direct sow beets?
Yes — beets is usually sown directly in the garden rather than started indoors.
How long until beets is ready to harvest?
About 55 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, beets planted around Apr 9 is typically ready near Jun 3.