How and When to Harvest Beets from Your Garden

Fast-growing and cold hardy, beets are some of the easiest crops to grow for beginning gardeners. But while growing beets is simple enough, if you want to get the tastiest and largest beets out of your garden, you’ll need to know exactly when to harvest beets for peak flavor and freshness. In this quick guide, you'll find everything you need to know about harvesting beet roots and their greens, plus how to store your harvest for the months ahead.

When Are Beets Ready to Harvest?

Beets are cool season crops that are usually grown in spring and autumn gardens, although beets can be grown in winter with a bit of extra protection. When grown from seed, beet roots are usually ready to harvest about 50 to 70 days after planting; however, beets can grow at different rates, depending on the weather and other factors. When grown in autumn gardens, beets can easily withstand a light frost or two, which actually improves their flavor and makes them sweeter. However, beet crops should be harvested before the ground freezes solid.

Unlike some crops that have firm harvesting guidelines, beets can be harvested at different stages of their growth depending on your personal preferences. Baby beets, for instance, are usually harvested when they’re about the size of a golf ball and their skin is still so soft that it won’t need peeling. Fully matured beets, on the other hand, are usually harvested when they’re about the size of a tennis ball and their tougher skin makes them ideal for winter storage.

You can also enjoy beet greens in salads, sautés, and more. So while you're waiting for your beet roots to mature, snip off a few leaves from each beet plant when the leaves are about 2 to 3 inches tall. When harvesting beet greens, always leave some leaves attached to your beet roots so your beets can continue to grow.

How to Tell When Beets are Ready to Harvest

When growing beets, so much of the magic occurs underground and it can be hard to judge if your beets are large enough to harvest. However, there are several ways that you can determine if your beets are big enough to pick without digging up the plants.

First, double check your seed packets for “days to maturity” and make sure your beets have been growing for at least the minimum amount of days listed on the packet. Then, examine your beet greens closely. If the beet greens are large and lush, your beet roots are likely filling out nicely; however, if your greens are starting to wilt, your beets may be past their prime and they should be dug up right away.

If you’re still not sure if your beets are mature, push away the soil around the base of some of your beet greens and expose the top 1/3 of your beet roots. If the tops of your beet roots are about the size of a golf ball or larger, they should be ready to harvest. But if your beets are still small, cover them back up with a bit of soil and allow them to grow for another week or two.

Tips for Harvesting Beets

Beets will be easier to harvest if the soil is moist, so plan to harvest your beets after a heavy rain. Or water your veggie garden well the day before you intend to pull up your beet crop.

When you’re ready to harvest your beets, loosen the soil around the roots with a garden fork or trowel, being careful not to damage the roots. Once the soil is loose, grab a beet plant at the base of its greens and gently pull upwards to lift the beet from the soil. If your soil is hard, you may want to place your trowel under a beet root and lever it up while pulling on the beet greens at the same time.

Storing Fresh Beets

You can use your freshly harvested beets right away or you can store them for the winter. Regardless of how you intend to use your beet roots, cut off the greens immediately after harvesting and leave just 1 inch of stalks attached to the roots. Leaving short stalks on your beets will help the roots last longer and it will also prevent your beet roots from “bleeding” during storage. Fresh beet greens will last in your fridge for about 3 to 5 days and they can be eaten fresh or cooked in any dish where you’d normally use kale or spinach.

If you intend to use your beet roots right away, give your beets a good rinse to remove any dirt and debris and then allow them to dry thoroughly. After drying, beets should be stored in a perforated bag in your crisper drawer, where they will remain fresh for about 1 to 2 weeks. Fresh beets can also be pickled or canned for longer storage.

If you intend to store beets in a root cellar or other cool place through the winter months, don’t wash your beets after harvesting. Instead, lay your beets out in a single layer in a cool, dry place for a few days and then brush away any dried dirt and debris on the beet skins. Pack your beets in crates or other containers filled with sand or sawdust and store them for up to five months in a root cellar or other cool place where temperatures will remain between 32 and 40°F.