When to Harvest Beets
Size, the fall deadline, and how to keep beets for months.
When to harvest beets depends on what you want from them. The University of Minnesota says to harvest when the roots are 3 to 7.5 cm (1¼ to 3 inches) across, which can be all summer for fresh use. Storage beets come out in fall.
Beets are a cool-season crop. The University of Massachusetts notes they tolerate frost and light freezes, and give their best quality in cool weather; summer heat gives lighter rings and less sugar.
Beet harvest at a glance: Pull beets at 3–7.5 cm (1¼–3 inches) across. Fall beets can ride out light frosts, but lift them before a hard freeze. Cut the tops off and store cold and moist, near 0°C, for up to about five months.
Harvesting carrots too? See When to Harvest Carrots for the same size and frost signals.
Size Is the Signal
The University of Minnesota’s range is 3 to 7.5 cm across. Smaller beets are tender for fresh eating; for storage, let them reach the upper end of the range. Very large beets can turn woody.
The Fall Deadline
Beets handle light frost. Lift storage beets before the ground freezes hard. Your average first fall frost is the usual warning:
| City | Zone | Average First Fall Frost |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 8b | Nov 30 |
| Kelowna | 6b | Oct 15 |
| Calgary | 3b | Sep 21 |
| Edmonton | 4a | Sep 23 |
| Saskatoon | 3a | Sep 12 |
| Winnipeg | 3a | Sep 20 |
| Thunder Bay | 3b | Sep 20 |
| Ottawa | 5a | Oct 12 |
| Toronto | 6b | Nov 1 |
| Montréal | 5b | Oct 7 |
| Quebec City | 5a | Sep 28 |
| Fredericton | 5a | Sep 26 |
| Halifax | 6a | Oct 18 |
| St. John’s | 5b | Oct 13 |
Frost dates and zones from this site’s data.
Storing Beets
The University of Minnesota says to store beets cold and moist without their tops, and expects about five months. The University of Massachusetts gives the ideal as 0°C (32°F) at 95% humidity, with greens removed, for 4 to 6 months, and warns that low humidity makes them shrivel. At home that usually means the fridge in a perforated bag, or a root cellar. See storing carrots and beets without a root cellar.
A More Cautious Prairie View
Sources disagree on how much frost beets take. The University of Massachusetts says they tolerate frost and light freezes. The University of Saskatchewan, writing for Prairie and northern gardens, says beets do not tolerate frost and should be harvested before it freezes. On the Prairies, where a light frost can turn into a hard one within days, the safer plan is to lift storage beets by your first fall frost.
Its size guide is 5–7 cm across, or larger if you prefer. Store only roots that were not cut or badly scuffed when you dug them; eat the damaged ones first.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are beets ready to harvest?
When the roots are 3 to 7.5 cm (1¼ to 3 inches) across, according to the University of Minnesota.
Can beets stay in the ground after frost?
Sources differ. The University of Massachusetts says beets tolerate frost and light freezes; the University of Saskatchewan says to harvest before it freezes. On the Prairies, lift storage beets by your first fall frost, and everywhere before the ground freezes hard.
Should I cut the tops off beets before storing?
Yes. Both the University of Minnesota and the University of Massachusetts say to store beets without their tops.
How long do beets keep?
About five months in cold, moist storage, according to the University of Minnesota; the University of Massachusetts gives 4 to 6 months at 0°C and 95% humidity.
Why are my beets ringed and not sweet?
The University of Massachusetts says summer heat causes alternating light and dark rings and lower sugar; beets do best in cool weather.
Can I eat beet greens?
Yes, beets are grown for greens as well as roots. Harvest a few young leaves at a time.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Harvesting and storing home garden vegetables
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension — Optimal Storage Conditions and Ethylene Sensitivity of Fall Storage Crops
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension — Beets and Swiss Chard
- Environment and Climate Change Canada — Canadian Climate Normals (the frost dates in the tables, read from this site’s frost data)
- University of Saskatchewan, Gardening at USask — Beets