Plant Beets in Zone 6a
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6a
Zone 6a averages 176 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 20 to a first fall frost around October 13. Beets needs roughly 55 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 31 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 Mar 30, roughly 3 weeks before the Zone 6a 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 176-day Zone 6a season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting beets for a fall harvest in Zone 6a
Yes. Sow beets by August 26 in Zone 6a. 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 6a 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 6a
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar 30 | Mar 30 | May 24 |
| Fall | by Aug 26 | Aug 26 | Oct 20 |
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 6a
Frequently asked questions
When should I start beets in Zone 6a?
Direct sow outdoors around Mar 30.
Can I direct sow beets in Zone 6a?
Yes, direct sow around Mar 30.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Zone 6a?
Yes. Sow beets by August 26 in Zone 6a. 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 6a?
Beets is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 6a. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of beets fit in a Zone 6a season?
About 2. Zone 6a averages 176 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.