Beet
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Also known as: Beetroot, Garden beet, Table beet, Red beet, Remolacha
Quick facts
- Category
- roots bulbs
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 50 to 70 days
- Harvest type
- single harvest then replant
- Spacing
- 10 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 10–24°C
- pH
- 6 to 7
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1.8 to 3 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 18 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3 to 10 (winter low around -40°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost hardy (handles regular frost)
- Season
- cool (spring and fall crops)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
- indoor (heated home)
- indoor hydroponics under grow lights
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Beet works in:
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (beet works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2.2 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
A moderately challenging hydroponic root crop. The root development requires a deep growing medium (15 cm of perlite, expanded clay, or coco coir in a media bed or Dutch bucket). Pure water-culture systems (DWC, NFT) don't support root bulb formation well. EC 1.8-3.0 mS/cm. pH 6.0-7.0. Temperature: 15–24°C (cool-season crop; above 28°C, growth stalls and roots become woody). Moderate light (DLI 14-20 mol/m2/day). From seed to harvest: 50-70 days depending on variety and desired size. Beet seeds are actually multigerm clusters (each 'seed' contains 2-4 actual seeds), so thinning is necessary: pinch out extra seedlings to leave one per spot. Boron deficiency causes hollow, black areas inside the root (internal black spot); ensure the nutrient solution includes adequate boron. Harvest when roots are 5–8 cm diameter for the best texture and sweetness. Larger roots become fibrous and woody. The greens are harvestable throughout growth; take a few outer leaves from each plant without stripping the plant bare. In aquaponics media beds, beets grow well alongside other root crops like carrots and radishes.
Verified against: rhs-uk. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.