Harvest guide

Beet harvest guide: when to pick and how much to expect

Beets (beetroot) give two harvests in one: sweet roots and tender greens. Here is when to pull them, how much to expect and how to store them for winter.

Days to harvest: 60–65 days from sowing(Montana State University Extension)
Harvest months: June–October(RHS)
Typical yield: 4.5 kg per 3 m row (10 lb per 10 ft)(Montana State University Extension)
Spacing: 10 cm (4 in) apart(RHS)
Family: Amaranthaceae (amaranth family)
Botanical name: Beta vulgaris

Beet planting and harvest calendar

Sow March–July. Harvest June–October.(RHS)

Beet season timeline

Sow
Harvest

Months are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate, based on RHS (UK) guidance. Shift them earlier or later to match your own frost dates, or by about six months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sow
Harvest

When to harvest beets

Start pulling alternate plants once the roots are about golf-ball size, leaving the rest to grow on. Don't let them get much bigger than a cricket ball.(RHS)
In inches, that is roughly 1¼ to 3 in (3–8 cm) across.(University of Minnesota Extension)
You can pick a few leaves from each plant as you go, but leave at least four or five so the root keeps swelling.(RHS)

How often to pick

Harvest in stages from early summer to mid-autumn, thinning the row as you go so the remaining roots have space.(RHS)

How many beets to expect

A 3 m (10 ft) row typically gives about 4.5 kg (10 lb). Roots. The same row also gives about 4 lb (1.8 kg) of greens.(Montana State University Extension)

Yields vary with variety, weather, soil and care. Treat these as ballpark figures, not targets.

Plan for your family

For 4 people eating beets fresh, plan on about 6–12 m (20–40 ft) of row(University of Missouri Extension). That should give roughly 9–18 kg (20–40 lb)(Montana State University Extension).

To preserve or store some as well, allow 3–6.1 m (10–20 ft) of row per person.(University of Missouri Extension)

See the full planting-per-person guide →

Storing your beets

Twist the leaves off about 2.5 cm (1 in) above the root rather than cutting close, and handle the roots gently.(RHS)
Kept cold and humid with the tops removed, beets can last about five months.(University of Minnesota Extension)
Larger roots store better than small ones. A box of dry sand or compost in a shed works well.(RHS)

Track it

Log every beet harvest

Harvest Journal is a private garden journal for your phone. Tap to log each picking of beets by weight or count, and see your season add up, with no account needed.

Prefer paper? Make a free harvest report PDF in your browser, with no account needed.

Beet harvest FAQ

What size should beets be when harvested?

Between golf-ball and cricket-ball size, about 3 to 8 cm across. Smaller roots are sweeter and good for eating fresh, and larger ones store better.

Can you eat beet leaves?

Yes. The RHS notes that young leaves are good raw in salads and older ones can be cooked like spinach. Leave a few on each plant so the root keeps growing.