Can I leave beets in the ground all winter if I cover them like I do the carrots?!
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Yes.
When to Plant Beets
Beets like cool weather. If you want to know when to plant beets, you would plant them during weather that is cool. They grow well in cool temperatures in spring and fall. They do very poor in hot weather.
If you have been wondering when to plant beets, you should remember that they can be grown all winter long in many southern states. In Northern soils, beets should not be planted until the temperature of the soil is at least 40 degrees F.
When growing beets, make sure you plant the seeds one to two inches apart in the row. You can cover the seeds lightly with loose soil, and then sprinkle it with water. You should see the plants start growing in seven to 14 days. If you want a continuous supply, plant your beets in several plantings, about three weeks apart from each other.
You can plant them in partial shade, but when growing beets you want their roots to reach a depth of at least 3-6 inches, so don’t plant them under a tree where they might run into tree roots.
SDA
Beets are like carrots, they can be mulched heavily and left in the ground through the winter. You can mulch them now if you are concerned about them freezing--then pull them whenever you have time.
Beets can withstand frost and mild freezing but should be harvested before a hard freeze occurs.
If you are harvesting for the roots they don't have to grow to any particular size to be ready to eat. However, they are best small: picked when 1 1/2 to 2 inches in size though some varieties can grow twice that size with little loss of flavor or texture. The texture of the larger beets can become fibrous or woody unless plants are supplied with adequate water during hot weather. You don't have to pick all your beets exactly as they reach harvest size, but the sooner the better. You can pick them for up to 4 to 6 weeks before they become too woody. For the sweetest taste and most tender texture plant a fall crop and plan to harvest the roots after the weather turns cool.
