Plant Beets in Zone 7b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 7b
Zone 7b averages 212 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 3 to a first fall frost around November 1. Beets needs roughly 55 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 26 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 13, roughly 3 weeks before the Zone 7b 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 212-day Zone 7b season has room for about 3 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting beets for a fall harvest in Zone 7b
Yes. Sow beets by September 14 in Zone 7b. 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 7b 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 7b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar 13 | Mar 13 | May 7 |
| Fall | by Sep 14 | Sep 14 | Nov 8 |
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 7b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start beets in Zone 7b?
Direct sow outdoors around Mar 13.
Can I direct sow beets in Zone 7b?
Yes, direct sow around Mar 13.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Zone 7b?
Yes. Sow beets by September 14 in Zone 7b. 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 7b?
Beets is a hardy crop and keeps going roughly 21 days past the first light frost in Zone 7b. A row cover or a straw mulch buys more.
How many plantings of beets fit in a Zone 7b season?
About 3. Zone 7b averages 212 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.