When to plant beets in Ohio
Ohio’s average last spring frost is April 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 14 — about 172 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Ohio's growing season.
When to plant beets in Ohio: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 23 – Apr 11. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Ohio: Apr 15 · May 3 · May 21
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 Ohio, 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 23 – Apr 11). 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 Ohio.
- 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 17 – Jun 6). 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 Ohio’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Ohio
Ohio spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b. 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 Ohio ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Ohio?
Sow beets in Ohio between March 23 and April 11. That timing is set by Ohio's average last spring frost of April 25.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Ohio?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between August 2 and August 19, so the crop matures in cool weather before Ohio's first frost around October 14.
When will beets planted in Ohio be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about May 17 to June 6, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Ohio?
On average around April 25, with the first fall frost around October 14 - about 172 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.