Growing Great Beets:  Checklist

Sun: 6 hours or more. Tolerates a little shade.

Sowing: sow seed directly.  Can tolerate cooler soil temperatures but wait until soil reaches about 50°F (10°C).

Soil: loose, stone-free, pH 6.5 to 7.0. Beets sulk in acidic soil.

Thin early: each "seed" is a cluster that sprouts several plants.  Thin to 3 to 4 inches apart as soon as 4 true leaves show.  Eat the thinnings.  Do not try to transplant

Water:  Water once weekly and deeply. Dry spells make roots woody.

Feed: Feed nitrogen to start for  4 weeks.  Then switch to high Phosphorous.  You should get a lovely crop of greens, then roots.

Succession: sow a short row every 3 weeks until midsummer.

Harvest: pull at 1½ to 3 inches across. Bigger beets are tough, but if pickling keep them growing.

Rotate: Member of the spinach and chard family, so try not to plant in the same area for 3 years