An incredibly tasty vegetable that most home gardeners skip over, the beet is actually a great addition to any home garden due to the small amount of space they require. Being that beets grow beneath the soil’s surface, they require deeper, well-drained garden beds. If soil is too dense, it can cause the beets to be tough.

So you’ve decided to plant beets in your fantasitc garden, nice! According to our research on beets, we don’t recommend planting beans (pole and runner beans), and tomatoes nearby.

Beets grow best in a cooler climate. They can be grown year-round in most southern states, but do poorly when temperatures are above 80. Once soil temperatures reach above 40 degrees, beets can safely be planted in northern gardens. Beets can be planted close together in partial shade, with just 1 or 2 inches between each seed. For a continuous harvest, plant each group of beets about 3-4 weeks apart.

Beets are ready for harvest fairly quickly, with just 7 to 8 weeks of growing time before reaching maturity. When harvesting beets, simply grab the beet where the stalks meet the soil, and firmly pull the beet from the ground. The leaves of the beet, known as beet greens, can also be harvested while the beet is being grown. Simply snip a few leaves from each juvenile beet plant, wash them off, and enjoy them in a delicious salad. These delicious “bonus” greens are also good for you, as they are an ample source of vitamins A, C, and E.