Planting Beets in Coastal South Carolina

Planting Season

• To ensure fewer problems with disease and insects, plant beets at the proper time. Plant spring crops from Dec. 15 through June 30 and fall crops from Aug.1 through 20 in coastal South Carolina. To get their rich red color, beets need sun and cool weather.

Soil and Location

• Beets like sandy or loamy soil. Loam contains roughly equal parts of sand, silt and clay. They grow less well in clay soil that blocks their roots. They germinate best at soil temperatures between 55 and 75 F. Plant seeds in a location that protects them from drying wind. Their roots will not mature if you plant them in partial shade.

Planting Basics

• Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows that are 10 to 30 inches apart. They should germinate in five to 10 days. Thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart a week after they germinate Beet greens are among the most delicious of all greens. If you plant beets just for their greens, sow the seeds 1/2 inch apart in all directions.

Recommended Varieties

• Clemson University horticulturalists recommend "Red Ace" (Beta vulgaris “Red Ace"), “Red Cloud” (Beta vulgaris “Red Cloud”) and “Detroit Dark Red” (Beta vulgaris “Detroit Dark Red”). “Red Ace,” a hybrid developed for warm climates, has tops that grow from 12 to 15 inches high and matures in just 53 days, an advantage on South Carolina’s warm coast. Round, sweet “Red Cloud” also matures in 53 days. Classic sweet "Detroit Dark Red" beets grow 3 inches wide with tops from 8 to 10 inches high spreading up to 12 inches wide. They mature in 59 days.