Vegetable / Cool season

Detroit Dark Red Beet

Dual-purpose root and greens crop for shoulder seasons.

Earthy-sweet roots with edible greens.

Seed spacing and maturity

Days to maturity
58
Germination temperature
50-85F
Seed depth
0.5 inches
Spacing
4 inches
Row spacing
12 inches
Start method
Direct sow

Frost-date timing

Direct sow
21 days before last frost
Fall planting
9 weeks before first frost
Succession interval
repeat every 21 days

Action plan

Can I plant this now?
Use your local last-frost, first-frost, and soil-temperature checks before treating this crop as plantable today.
Start indoors or direct sow?
Direct sow into the final bed when the soil temperature, seed depth, and moisture are ready.
How much space?
4 inches in-row spacing, 12 inches between rows, and 0.5 inch seed depth.
Best companions?
Use crop-family rotation first, then pair with compatible timing, spacing, and canopy size rather than relying on a simple companion chart.
Common failure modes?
Neglected thinning creates crowded, undersized roots. Even water keeps roots smooth. Loose, fertile soil; thin seedlings early.

Growing profile

Sun
Full sun
Water
Even water keeps roots smooth.
Soil
Loose, fertile soil; thin seedlings early.
Watch
Neglected thinning creates crowded, undersized roots.
  • roots
  • greens
  • storage
  • fall

Browse context

Related varieties

Source: UMN planting the vegetable garden