When to plant beets in Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s average last spring frost is May 10, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 30 — about 143 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Wisconsin's growing season.
When to plant beets in Wisconsin: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 7 – Apr 26. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Wisconsin: Apr 30 · May 18 · Jun 5
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 Wisconsin, 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 7 – Apr 26). 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 Wisconsin.
- 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 Jun 1 – Jun 21). 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 Wisconsin’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Wisconsin
Wisconsin spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b. 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 Wisconsin ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Wisconsin?
Sow beets in Wisconsin between April 7 and April 26. That timing is set by Wisconsin's average last spring frost of May 10.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Wisconsin?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 19 and August 5, so the crop matures in cool weather before Wisconsin's first frost around September 30.
When will beets planted in Wisconsin be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about June 1 to June 21, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Wisconsin?
On average around May 10, with the first fall frost around September 30 - about 143 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.