Bull's Blood Beet

While seed catalogs note that starting Bull's Blood indoors is not recommended due to root disturbance delaying maturity, if you choose to start seeds indoors, sow 1/2 inch deep in 72- or 128-cell flats about 5 to 6 weeks before your intended transplanting date. Use 2 to 3 seeds per cell. However, be aware that transplanted beets often produce less uniform roots and tangled taproots compared to direct-seeded crops.

Transplant seedlings 3 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart after heavy frosts become infrequent and soil has warmed. Cut leaves about 1 inch above the soil when transplanting to reduce transplant shock. Expect that transplanted beets may not be as uniform as direct-seeded ones.

Direct sow 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date for an early summer crop, or 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost for a late summer or fall crop. In mild climates, you can sow from fall through winter. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally between 60 and 85°F. Succession sow every 1 to 2 weeks for continuous harvest.

Baby leaves are ready to pick in as little as 35 days from sowing. Harvest leaves when they reach 3 to 6 inches tall by cutting with a knife about 1 inch above the soil to allow for clean regrowth and continued harvests; once leaves exceed 6 inches, they become tough and less palatable. For root harvest, loosen the soil around the beet and pull gently when roots reach your desired size; small roots are tender, while large roots may become woody if left in the ground too long. You can harvest one to two mature leaves per plant at a time while allowing the roots to continue developing.