When to plant beets in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant beets in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 1 – Mar 20. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Arkansas: Mar 24 · Apr 11 · Apr 29
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow beets in Arkansas, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Mar 1 – Mar 20). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed 0.75 inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Arkansas.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, flea beetle, aphids. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, scab, damping off.
- Harvest (from about Apr 25 – May 15). Beet takes 50-70 days to reach harvest. Each wrinkled 'seed' is a cluster of 2-4 seedlings - thin to one or transplant the extras while tiny. Thinnings are edible greens.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the beet dates shift with them.
When to plant beets in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Feb 20 – Mar 11 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 15 – Mar 6 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Jan 31 – Feb 19 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 10 – Jan 29 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Arkansas?
Sow beets in Arkansas between March 1 and March 20. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Arkansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 20 and September 6, so the crop matures in cool weather before Arkansas's first frost around November 1.
When will beets planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about April 25 to May 15, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.