Beets planting calendar for USDA Zone 6b

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent

Beets is well suited to Zone 6b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Direct-seed outdoors

March 27 – April 17

Expected first harvest

May 28 – June 25

Fall planting window

July 23 – August 13

Fall harvest window

September 23 – October 21

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing: 3″
Row spacing: 12″
Seed depth: 0.5″
Soil temperature: 50–75°F
Frost tolerance: hardy
Days to harvest: 55 days

Grower notes for Zone 6b

Each seed cluster contains multiple embryos — thin ruthlessly to 3 inches or roots stay small.

Plant near: onions, brassicas, lettuce

Keep away from: pole beans

Other root crops for Zone 6b

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.

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