It’s mid October and here I am planting beets.
I have never tried to grow beets in the winter time before so I have no idea if this is going to work. But to me, the great thing about gardening is, you do not have to be an expert. In my opinion, it’s almost better not to know exactly what the heck you are doing. If I knew how to grow everything the fun would be zapped out of it because I couldn’t learn anything new.
So see, being blissfully unaware of the outcome can be a beautiful thing.
Anyway, back to the beets. So yesterday I planted 0ut several containers of beets I had started under grow lights* and moved out to the greenhouse about a month ago. I’m hoping that if I cover the beets with enough mulch this winter, they will continue to grow and by early next year I will have a fresh bed of beets to start the new year with.
So what do YOU think?
Have YOU ever tried to grow beets outside in the winter? Or am I nuts?
~Mavis
Want to try growing beets this winter too? Botanical Interests has my favorite beet seeds in stock!
Sarah says
I bet it will work! I’m trying it too, so we’ll see how the different climates affect the crop. I’m in KS, so we have no idea what our winter will be like (could be just a long fall like last year, or could be a blistering eat-your-face-off freezing windy winter). My beetlings are in raised beds that have a frame on them that i’m going to attach plastic (and hopefully plexiglass or old windows) to and will hopefully be able to grow in there like mini greenhouses.
Good luck with yours!
Linda says
Good luck, my beet seeds are so hard to start, even after roller pinning them!
Ayrie Joyce says
It might be different here, but our beets tend to bolt early when planted this way. You might try double layers of floating row cover instead of mulch. It will allow some light through.
Cassie says
Not sure how cold your winters get, but someone told us to create hoops (small pvc pipe, wire or old hoola hoops) and put a clear/lite white plastic over it. Helps keep in some heat I think….
Robin Welch says
I grew beets last winter and have some babies in the garden right now. They grow slow but were just fine and provided yummy greens all winter.
Annette says
Can I just ask how much time you spend each day in your garden? It looks really beautiful, and I want to be able to do that too, but my lack of free time is highly restrictive.
Mavis says
It just depends. Some days none {seriously} and other day maybe an hour? Maybe 8-10 hours a week in the summer time?
Angie Smith says
I haven’t tried it, but I was just thinking that maybe some baby beet greens can add to your harvest for this year so you can meet your goal without having to grow so much kale! 🙂