key growing information

Pelleted Beet Growing Information

How to grow beets from pelleted seed: pellet size and seeders, watering, shelf life and storage, soil, transplants, direct sowing, disorders, harvest and storage.

By Hensley’s Seed Co. September 3, 2026

Pelleted Beets - Key Growing Information

Beets grown from pelleted seed, for ease of handling, uniform plantings, and minimal thinning.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Beta vulgaris

PELLETED SEED:

Smooth, uniform pellets help prevent the jams that irregular beet seed can cause in mechanical planters. Our beet pellets are size 18.0, which suits Stanhay seeders (belt size 18.0) and many of the precision seeders on the market. Note that these large pellets may be too heavy for air or vacuum planters. Pelleted seed needs a bit more care with watering: it does best when the soil stays evenly, moderately moist right through germination. The first watering splits or dissolves the coating, and if the soil then dries out before germination is complete, the seed may not get enough moisture to sprout well.

PELLET STORAGE:

Pelleting has many benefits, but it does shorten the seed's shelf life, so we suggest using pelleted seed within a year of purchase. Until planting, keep it somewhere cool, dark and dry, away from heat and humidity. If you'd rather keep it in the refrigerator, seal it in an airtight container to protect it from swings in humidity.

CULTURE:

Beets grow fast and well in light or loamy soil with a pH above 6.0. Cool weather generally gives the best root color, while sharp swings in weather cause zoning, the white rings inside the root.

TRANSPLANTING:

In early spring, start seed indoors or in a cold frame about 5–6 weeks before planting out, once hard frosts are becoming rare. Sow ½" deep at 3–4 seeds per inch, and transplant 3" apart in rows 12–18" apart.

DIRECT SEEDING:

Start sowing once the soil reaches 45°F (7°C): ½" deep at 15 seeds per foot in rows 12–18" apart, thinned to one plant every 3". For a steady supply of greens and tender baby beets, sow every 2 weeks until 8 weeks before regular hard frosts.

DISEASES:

Keep beets well watered to prevent scab, the same problem seen on potatoes, which leaves rough, raised brown patches on mature roots. Internal browning, caused by boron deficiency, is most common in alkaline soil after long hot, dry spells. Rotate crops to prevent Cercospora leaf spot.

HARVEST AND STORAGE:

Loosen with a fork or undercut, lift, wash and hydrocool; bunches keep about 10 days at 32°F (0°C) and 95% relative humidity.

WINTER STORAGE OF ROOTS:

Sow about 10 weeks before a hard freeze is expected. Trim the tops, wash, and store up to 6 months at 32°F (0°C) and 95% humidity.

DAYS TO MATURITY:

Counted from direct sowing; take off 14–21 days for transplants.

AVG. SEEDING RATE:

At 15 seeds per foot in 18" rows: 1,000 seeds sow about 66', 5,000 about 333', and roughly 436,000 seeds per acre.

SIZED SEEDS:

Sized seed has been graded to a uniform size, which gives more precise spacing in mechanical seeders and a more even stand. Our Beet seed is sized unless the product description says otherwise.

SEED SPECS:

SEEDS/LB.: about 37,000 on average.

PACKET:

250 seeds per packet, enough for about 23'.