Beet in Zone 5a & 5b
Beta vulgaris
Yes, beet grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside Apr 19–Apr 26. For a fall crop, plant out Jul 28–Aug 11.
When to plant beet in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Window | Spring window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 19–Apr 26 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 13–Jun 20 (~55 days after direct-sowing) |
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jul 28–Aug 11 |
| Estimated harvest | Sep 21–Oct 5 (~55 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 9 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists beet for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of beet in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- RadishApr 12–Apr 19
- CarrotApr 19–Apr 26
- CabbageApr 26–May 3
- LettuceApr 26–May 3
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Apr 19–Apr 26
- MizunaApr 19–Apr 26
Beets give you two crops in one: the root everyone thinks of, plus edible greens that can be harvested along the way without ruining the root underneath. They're also more tolerant of imperfect soil than carrots or other root crops, which makes them a good choice for a bed that isn't perfectly loose and stone-free.
How beet fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Beet needs about 55 days from sowing to first harvest.
Beet planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2bSpring window | Not usually | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 23–Jun 30 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jun 24–Jul 8 | Aug 18–Sep 1 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 9–May 16 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 4a & 4bSpring window | Not usually | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 18–Jun 25 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jul 13–Jul 27 | Sep 6–Sep 20 |
| 5a & 5bSpring window (your zone) | Not usually | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Jul 28–Aug 11 | Sep 21–Oct 5 |
| 6a & 6bSpring window | Not usually | Apr 4–Apr 11 | May 29–Jun 5 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 7–Aug 21 | Oct 1–Oct 15 |
| 7a & 7bSpring window | Not usually | Mar 20–Mar 27 | May 14–May 21 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Aug 17–Aug 31 | Oct 11–Oct 25 |
| 8a & 8bSpring window | Not usually | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Apr 28–May 5 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Sep 2–Sep 16 | Oct 27–Nov 10 |
| 9a & 9bSpring window | Not usually | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 21–Mar 28 |
| Fall window | Not usually | Sep 27–Oct 11 | Nov 21–Dec 5 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Jan | Sep–Feb | ~55 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 55 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Onion: Neither competes heavily; onions deter some beet pests.
Where to buy beet seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's beet seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Bull's Blood: Cornell's vegetable disease-resistance trials found leaf spot (cercospora) severity on Bull's Blood was consistently lower than on all other cultivars tested across multiple growing seasons, a solid choice where cercospora leaf spot is a recurring problem. Buy: Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
- Touchstone Gold: The top performer in Cornell's own trials, remaining almost free of Cercospora symptoms across two separate growing seasons in Florida testing. Buy: Botanical Interests · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Chioggia Guardsmark: The candy-striped Italian heirloom, pink-and-white rings when sliced, at 55 days. Buy: High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing beet" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Beet in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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