How To Harvest Beets

It was just about time to harvest beets! Here are a few of my chioggia and golden beets, ready for the oven!

I just can’t get enough of beets! They are wonderful as a main dish or side, and there are so many ways to use them in the kitchen. I enjoy harvesting beets because it always feels like the hard work in the garden has paid off.

Many gardeners wonder how to tell when beets are ready to harvest. Since the roots grow mostly below the soil, it is not always easy to judge their size.

Beets grow mostly below the soil, but the upper part of the root is often visible above ground. You can estimate the size by looking at the exposed part or gently feeling around the top of the beet before harvesting.

Check the size

Beets can be harvested at several stages. You can pick them while they are still small and tender, or leave them in the ground until they grow larger. Larger beets are particularly useful for roasting, soups and preserving.

Large leaves do not necessarily mean that there is a large root underneath. If you cannot see enough of the beet above the soil, gently place your thumb and index finger around the top of the root. This will help you estimate its size without pulling it up.

Beets often grow in small clusters because several seedlings can emerge from a single seed cluster. If you have not thinned them, harvest the largest root first and leave the smaller ones to continue growing. I often work my way along the row this way, removing the largest beets as I need them.

If you would like to sow new beets soon, SeedsNow’s Root Crop Garden Variety Pack includes several beet varieties, along with carrots and other root vegetables. You can find the variety pack here: All-in-One Root Crop Garden Variety Pack

More about beets:

Growing beets from seed
Late harvest of beet greens
Winter-sowing beets

Pickled beets! Photo: Maria Strömberg Bååth

Beet salad with flax seeds and halloumi. Photo: Maria Strömberg Bååth

A bean and beet dressing. Photo: Maria Strömberg Bååth

Beet recipes:

My homemade pickled beets
Crispy beet patties with feta cheese
Delicious beet salad with halloumi
Traditional Swedish beet salad

The final sowing date for beets depends on your climate and the length of your growing season. In my northern garden, I make the last sowings during summer and may harvest smaller roots or beet greens later in fall.

Even if the roots do not have time to grow very large, the leaves are still useful in the kitchen. Young beet greens can be eaten fresh, while larger leaves can be cooked much like spinach.

I hope these tips help you decide when your beets are ready to harvest!

/Sara Bäckmo