VegetableBeet
Red Ace Beet
Table Beet
Red Ace is a hybrid beet that earns its reputation as a workhorse standard by maturing in just 50, 59 days from seed, often a full week ahead of competing varieties. It grows into compact, upright plants reaching 12, 18 inches tall and produces small, tender, uniformly sized globes with notably deep red pigmentation. What gardeners love about Red Ace is its adaptability: it thrives in zones 2, 10, tolerates cool temperatures and even drought better than most beets, and performs reliably in loamy soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The mild, sweet flavor and tender texture make it equally at home fresh from the garden, sliced, or pickled.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/beet-red-ace-hybrid)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
3-4 inches apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Red Ace stands out for its speed and reliability. It matures seven days faster than many other beet varieties while producing small, sweet, uniformly sized roots that are ideal for fresh harvest or storage. Cool-season growing actually improves its flesh color, and its greater drought tolerance means it forgives gardeners who occasionally forget to water. The roots store beautifully for up to six months in proper conditions, making Red Ace a practical choice for both fresh-eating and winter preservation.
Common Uses
Red Ace shines in fresh applications where its tender globe size and mild sweetness can be appreciated whole or thinly sliced. It's excellent for pickling, where its uniform sizing ensures even preservation, and the greens can be harvested young for pot greens or raw salads. The roots are tender when small, making them particularly good for early-season eating before they can become woody if left in the ground too long.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
N/a
First Harvest
7 Weeks After Planting
Last Harvest
10 Weeks After Planting
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seed indoors in a cold frame about 5, 6 weeks before your last heavy frost. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep, placing 2, 3 seeds per cell in 72- or 128-cell flats. Transplanting may reduce uniformity compared to direct seeding and can tangle taproots, but it can bring earlier harvests if spring weather is poor.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors after heavy frosts become infrequent. Space transplants 3 inches apart in rows 12, 18 inches apart. Handle gently when harvesting transplanted beets, as their taproots may tangle; hold back the rest of the plant while gently pulling the root.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in the garden once soil is workable in spring. Sow seed 1/2 inch deep in the bottom of the furrow.
Harvesting
Harvest when roots reach your desired size; smaller roots are more tender, while larger roots left in the ground too long may become woody. Loosen the soil gently around the root and pull carefully. You can also harvest the greens while the root develops: pick one to two mature leaves per plant, but leave several leaves to support continued root growth. Greens become tough once they exceed 6 inches in height, so harvest them while young for best tenderness.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Beta patula Aiton
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Beta