Numerous varieties of beets (Beta vulgaris) are prized for their flavorful roots and greens. Beets are quick to mature, typically taking less than 60 days to develop roots of the optimal size and flavor. Beets are commonly thinned out or harvested for their edible leaves and are frequently grown with successive plantings every few weeks during both spring and fall growing seasons. Beet harvesting is fairly easy, especially if the soil is loose and damp, and is often done by hand, although a garden fork is helpful in harder soils once the beets are large.
Irrigate the garden a day before thinning or harvesting beets, or time your harvesting a day or two following significant rainfall. If the soil is damp, it is easier to pull beets up than if soil is dry and hard. Avoid working in the garden when the soil is very wet, however, as this can damage the soil's structure.
Hand pull seedlings to thin them out, selectively removing plants so that remaining beets are about 3 inches apart. If you thin out beet plants after they are over 3 inches tall, you can more easily prepare and eat the tops as greens.
Harvest or thin young beets again beginning when beetroots measure about an inch across. Firmly grasp the beet by the top near the soil line, and pull it vertically out of the soil. Alternatively, use a spading fork, also known as a digging or garden fork, to penetrate the soil under the roots and loosen the soil enough to expose the beet root, which makes it easier to pull up. The greens on beets harvested when the roots are this size or larger are still tender and excellent for eating.
Pull up or use a garden fork to turn up beets as desired before the beetroots grow more than 2 to 3 inches wide. Beetroots of most varieties become fibrous and tough if left to grow larger than about 3 inches wide.
Cut the beet tops about 1/2 to 1 inch above the root before placing beets in storage.
Things You Will Need
- Gloves, if desired
- Spading fork
- For fall beet crops, harvest beets before a hard frost or moderate freeze is anticipated.
- For spring crops, harvest beets before summer weather gets very hot.
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