Plant Beets in Zone 4b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 4b
Zone 4b averages 146 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around May 5 to a first fall frost around September 28. Beets needs roughly 55 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 38 percent of that window. Beets is a hardy crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Beets handles cold soil, so there is no reason to wait for the frost date. Direct sow around Apr 14, roughly 3 weeks before the Zone 4b last frost, as soon as the ground is workable. Sowing at the last frost instead costs you the coolest and best part of the season. At 55 days to harvest, a 146-day Zone 4b season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting beets for a fall harvest in Zone 4b
Yes. Sow beets by August 11 in Zone 4b. That is 48 days before the average first frost, which covers the 55 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 21 days beets keeps going once light frost arrives.
Beets sown for fall give you two crops at once: greens within a month and roots that sweeten in cold soil.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 4b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall beets in Zone 4b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Apr 14 | Apr 14 | Jun 8 |
| Fall | by Aug 11 | Aug 11 | Oct 5 |
Beets in nearby zones
Further reading on beets
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How a cold frame keeps beets producing into winter, and when to sow it.
- Winter sowing guide
Sowing beets outdoors in jugs in late winter, with no lights.
- Last frost date and what to plant before it
Why beets can go out before your last frost, and how far before.
Other crops in Zone 4b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start beets in Zone 4b?
Direct sow outdoors around Apr 14.
Can I direct sow beets in Zone 4b?
Yes, direct sow around Apr 14.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Zone 4b?
Yes. Sow beets by August 11 in Zone 4b. That is 48 days before the average first frost, which covers the 55 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, minus the roughly 21 days beets keeps going once light frost arrives.
Will beets survive frost in Zone 4b?
Beets is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 4b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of beets fit in a Zone 4b season?
About 2. Zone 4b averages 146 frost-free days and beets needs roughly 55 days plus a couple of weeks of turnaround, so sowing every 35 days keeps a supply coming.