Horticultural Planning Records Est. data · NOAA 1991–2020 · USDA 2023

Vegetable · Amaranthaceae

How to Grow Beet Greens

Cool season Half-hardy Partial sun
Days to maturity 30–45
Spacing 2"
Plants / sq ft 6
Season Cool

Planting Beet Greens

Beet Greens is a cool season vegetable in the Amaranthaceae family. Getting the timing right is the difference between a strong stand and a disappointing one, so the windows below are given relative to your own last spring frost and first fall frost rather than a generic calendar date. Look up your local frost dates and count back or forward from there.

You can sow Beet Greens directly into the garden 2–4 weeks before your last frost.

For a fall crop, sow 6–8 weeks before your first fall frost so plants mature as the weather cools.

Spacing and Planting Depth

Give Beet Greens room to mature. The figures below come from verified extension and seed-supplier data for typical varieties.

Spacing in row2 inches
Row spacing12 inches
Plants per sq ft6
Planting depth0.5 inches
Sun requirementPartial sun

Days to Maturity

Beet Greens reaches maturity in 30–45 days from sowing.

For a continuous harvest, sow a new batch every 14 days. Use the succession planting scheduler →

Beet Greens is ready to harvest after about 38 days. Harvest before summer heat or, for fall crops, before a hard freeze, to keep quality high.

Conditions and Care

As a cool-season vegetable, Beet Greens does its best growing in the cooler weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. It is half-hardy — it withstands light frost but should be protected from a hard freeze.

Beet Greens grows well in partial sun and tolerates some afternoon shade, which can help slow bolting in warm weather. Sow seed about 0.5 inches deep, then keep the soil evenly moist until seedlings establish.

Beet Greens belongs to the Amaranthaceae family; rotating where you grow members of this family each year helps limit the build-up of soil-borne pests and disease. Because it matures relatively quickly, Beet Greens rewards succession sowing: small, repeated plantings keep a steady supply coming rather than one short glut.

Companion Plants

Pairing Beet Greens with the right neighbors can improve growth and deter pests; a few combinations are best avoided.

Grows well with: Lettuce (Loose-leaf), Onion

Keep away from: Green Beans (Pole)

Growing Notes

Same plant as beets, grown for tender leaves.

Plan your Beet Greens schedule
Data sources
  • Johnny's Selected Seeds