Cool-season produce

Beet

Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Conditiva Group

Also known as Beets · Beetroot · Beet greens

Both roots and leaves are edible. Keep growth even for tender roots; thinning greens can be eaten.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyAmaranthaceae

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowSeptember–early March.

How to plantDirect sow multigerm seed and thin seedlings.

Plant spacing3–4 in

FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.

Time to harvestAbout 60–80 days for roots

SuccessionSow every 2–3 weeks.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestFall through spring roots and greens.

Right plant, right place

Will Beet grow at your Arizona property?

Both roots and leaves are edible. Keep growth even for tender roots; thinning greens can be eaten.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.