Beet Mastery: Varieties, Succession Planting & Season Extension

Advanced Beet Cultivation

Building on beginner fundamentals, intermediate beet growing focuses on variety mastery, succession planting, and season extension techniques. Understanding the diversity within Beta vulgaris opens up exciting possibilities for color, flavor, and culinary applications.

Deep Dive into Beet Diversity

Red/Purple Beet Varieties

Classic Red Types:

Variety	Days	Shape	Characteristics
Detroit Dark Red	55-60	Globe	Gold standard since 1892, reliable
Red Ace (F1)	50-55	Globe	Fast, disease resistant, high sugar
Merlin	48	Globe	Very early, baby beet specialist
Boro (F1)	50	Globe	Uniform, commercial quality
Lutz Green Leaf	65-80	Large	Storage king, up to 4 lbs

Specialty Red Types:

Variety	Days	Shape	Characteristics
Cylindra	55-60	Cylindrical	Uniform slices, 8" long
Bull's Blood	55	Globe	Deep burgundy leaves, stunning
Crosby Egyptian	55	Flattened	Heirloom, quick-cooking
Early Wonder	48	Globe	Excellent greens variety

Golden Beet Varieties

Golden beets contain betaxanthins (yellow pigments) instead of betacyanins:

Variety	Days	Characteristics
Burpee's Golden	55	Original golden, since 1820s
Touchstone Gold	55	Improved flavor and color
Golden Detroit	55	Uniform, sweet
Boldor	50-55	Bright orange-gold

Intermediate Insight: Golden beets often have lower germination rates than red varieties. Compensate by sowing 25-50% more seeds.

Chioggia and Striped Varieties

Variety	Days	Pattern	Notes
Chioggia	55-60	Red/white rings	Italian heirloom, best raw
Candy Stripe	55	Red/white rings	Similar to Chioggia
Badger Flame	55	Gold/red rings	Unique coloring

White Beet Varieties

Variety	Days	Characteristics
Albino	55	Pure white, very sweet
Avalanche	55	Bright white, smooth skin
Blankoma	50-55	European variety, tender

Succession Planting Strategies

The Basics of Succession

Succession planting ensures continuous harvests:

Simple Succession Schedule:

Plant new seeds every 2-3 weeks
Start 2-3 weeks before last frost
Continue until 8 weeks before first fall frost
Resume in late summer for fall/storage crop

Temperature-Based Planning

Soil Temp	Germination	Days to Harvest	Quality
40-50°F	14-21 days	70-80 days	Good
50-60°F	8-12 days	60-70 days	Excellent
60-70°F	5-8 days	55-65 days	Excellent
70-80°F	5-7 days	50-60 days	Good (watch for bolting)
80°F+	3-5 days (poor)	Variable	Poor (avoid)

Advanced Succession Calendar

Spring Season (Zone 6 Example):

Week	Date	Variety	Harvest Window
-3	Mar 15	Red Ace	May 15-30
-1	Apr 1	Chioggia	Jun 1-15
+1	Apr 15	Golden	Jun 15-30
+3	May 1	Detroit	Jul 1-15
+5	May 15	Bull's Blood (last spring)	Jul 15-30

Fall Season:

Week	Date	Variety	Purpose
0	Jul 15	Lutz Green Leaf	Long storage
+2	Aug 1	Detroit Dark Red	Storage
+4	Aug 15	Red Ace	Fresh eating
+6	Sep 1	Merlin	Baby beets

Season Extension Techniques

Cold Protection Methods

Row Covers:

Lightweight (0.5 oz): +4-6°F protection
Medium weight (1.25 oz): +6-8°F protection
Apply at 35°F nighttime temperatures
Remove when temps exceed 75°F

Cold Frames:

Start beets 4-6 weeks earlier than field
Extend fall harvest 4-8 weeks
Vent on sunny days above 45°F
Excellent for overwintering in mild climates

Low Tunnels:

Wire hoops + plastic or row cover
Create 3-4 weeks earlier spring plantings
Protect fall crop from early frosts
Remove during warm periods

Overwintering Beets

In zones 7-9, beets can overwinter with protection:

Plant in September-October
Cover with 6-12 inches mulch when ground freezes
Remove mulch gradually in spring
Harvest before bolting (March-April)

Disease Recognition and Management

Fungal Diseases

Cercospora Leaf Spot (Most Common):

Small tan-gray spots with red-purple borders
Progresses to large necrotic areas
Favored by warm, humid conditions (77-95°F)
Management:
- Rotate crops (3-year minimum)
- Remove infected debris
- Fungicides if severe (chlorothalonil, copper)
- Resistant varieties: Red Ace, Boro

Rhizoctonia Crown and Root Rot:

Dark brown cankers on roots below soil
Yellowing, wilting leaves
Causes: Warm, wet soil; excessive irrigation
Management:
- Improve drainage
- Avoid excessive moisture
- Fungicide seed treatment

Powdery Mildew:

White, powdery patches on leaves
Caused by Erysiphe betae
Favored by warm days, cool nights, high humidity
Management:
- Good air circulation
- Sulfur-based fungicides
- Potassium bicarbonate sprays

Bacterial Diseases

Bacterial Leaf Spot:

Small, water-soaked lesions
Turn brown with yellow halos
Management:
- Avoid overhead irrigation
- Rotate crops
- Copper-based bactericides

Pest Identification and IPM

Major Beet Pests

Leaf Miners (Pegomya spp.):

Serpentine tunnels in leaves
Adult: Small gray flies
Larvae: White maggots between leaf layers
Control:
- Row covers at planting
- Remove and destroy affected leaves
- Spinosad for severe infestations

Flea Beetles:

Tiny holes (shot-hole damage) in leaves
Small, jumping beetles
Control:
- Row covers
- Diatomaceous earth
- Pyrethrin for severe infestations

Aphids:

Clustered on undersides of leaves
Curling, distorted growth
Sticky honeydew residue
Control:
- Strong water spray
- Insecticidal soap
- Beneficial insects (ladybugs, lacewings)

Beet Leafhopper:

Transmits Curly Top Virus
Yellow, curled, thickened leaves
Common in western US
Control:
- Row covers
- Remove infected plants
- No cure for virus

IPM Monitoring Schedule

Week	Action	Target Pests
At planting	Apply row covers	All flying pests
Week 1-2	Check germination, scout for flea beetles	Flea beetles
Week 3-4	Scout for leaf miners, remove affected leaves	Leaf miners
Weekly	Check undersides for aphids	Aphids
Harvest	Inspect roots for rot	Rhizoctonia

Soil and Fertility Management

Soil Testing and Amendment

Annual Soil Test Targets:

Parameter	Ideal Range	Amendment if Low
pH	6.5-7.0	Lime to raise, sulfur to lower
Organic Matter	3-5%	Compost, cover crops
Phosphorus	30-50 ppm	Bone meal, rock phosphate
Potassium	150-200 ppm	Greensand, wood ash
Boron	0.5-2 ppm	Borax (carefully!)

Boron Management

Boron is critical for beets—deficiency causes internal black spots:

Deficiency Signs:

Black, corky spots inside roots
Stunted growth
Hollow heart

Application:

Borax: 1 tablespoon per 100 sq ft
Mix thoroughly into soil before planting
Caution: Excess boron is toxic—don't over-apply

Fertility Program

Pre-Plant:

Compost: 2-3 inches incorporated
Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10): 1-2 lbs per 100 sq ft
Avoid fresh manure

Side-Dress (4-6 weeks after emergence):

Compost tea or dilute fish emulsion
Avoid high nitrogen at this stage

Quality Assessment

Harvest Maturity Indicators

Sign	Baby Beets	Full-Size	Storage
Diameter	1-2 inches	2-3 inches	3+ inches
Days from sowing	35-45	55-70	70-80
Shoulder visibility	Just visible	Clearly visible	Prominent
Leaf condition	Tender	Full-size	May be tough

Quality Defects to Avoid

Defect	Cause	Prevention
Zoning (white rings)	Uneven watering	Consistent irrigation
Woody texture	Overmature, heat stress	Timely harvest, cool weather
Black spots	Boron deficiency	Soil test, add boron
Cracking	Rapid growth after drought	Even moisture
Hairy roots	Heavy soil	Improve drainage

Companion Planting

Beneficial Companions

Companion	Benefit
Onions, garlic	Deter aphids and leaf miners
Lettuce	Interplant—harvest before beets need space
Cabbage family	Share similar nutrient needs
Bush beans	Fix nitrogen for following crop
Kohlrabi	Similar requirements

Plants to Avoid

Plant	Reason
Pole beans	May stunt beet growth
Field mustard	Attracts shared pests
Charlock	Same disease issues

Seed Saving Basics

Beets are biennial—they flower in their second year:

Select best plants from fall crop
Overwinter in ground (mild climates) or root cellar
Replant in spring (if stored)
Allow to bolt and flower
Collect seeds when dry and brown
Note: Beets cross-pollinate with Swiss chard and other beets—isolate by 1/2 mile or use cages

With these intermediate techniques, you'll enjoy beets from early spring through late fall, with beautiful variety in color and flavor!