How to grow beetroot in a raised bed

Beetroot gives you two crops in one — sweet roots and tender leaves you can use like silverbeet. The deep, loose mix of a raised bed grows lovely round roots.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun to part shade
• Spacing: 8–10 cm apart
• Tub depth: our 35 cm or 41 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 8–12 weeks

When should I plant beetroot?

Beetroot grows nearly year-round in mild areas, best in the cooler months. Sow directly where it's to grow. Our free garden calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): January to November
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): August to April
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): September to March
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): April to August
• Arid inland: February to October

How do I grow beetroot in a raised bed?

Sow seed into loose, stone-free mix. Each knobbly 'seed' is a cluster, so thin the seedlings to give each root room to swell into a good round shape.

How often should I water and feed beetroot?

Keep moisture even — irregular watering makes roots woody or split. Water the soil in the morning.

What pests attack beetroot?

Keep an eye out for aphids, cutworms and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

What diseases affect beetroot?

The main ones are leaf spot and downy mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

What grows well with beetroot?

Onions, brassicas and lettuce are good neighbours. See our companion planting guide.

When do I harvest beetroot?

Pull when the roots are golf-ball to tennis-ball size — bigger ones can turn woody. The young leaves are great steamed or in salads.

Plan your patch: our free garden calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Maja Dumat (Germany), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.