When to plant beets in Minnesota
Minnesota’s average last spring frost is May 6, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 28 — about 145 frost-free days (USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Minnesota's growing season.
When to plant beets in Minnesota: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 3 – Apr 22. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Minnesota: Apr 26 · May 14 · Jun 1
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 Minnesota, 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 (Apr 3 – Apr 22). 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 Minnesota.
- 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 May 28 – Jun 17). 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 Minnesota’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Minnesota
Minnesota spans USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a. 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
Questions gardeners in Minnesota ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Minnesota?
Sow beets in Minnesota between April 3 and April 22. That timing is set by Minnesota's average last spring frost of May 6.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Minnesota?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 17 and August 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Minnesota's first frost around September 28.
When will beets planted in Minnesota be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about May 28 to June 17, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Minnesota?
On average around May 6, with the first fall frost around September 28 - about 145 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.