How to Harvest Beets at the Right Size
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Learning how to harvest beets is mainly a question of size and timing. Extension sources agree that beets can be picked early, but the main crop is usually dug once the roots reach a moderate size. Wait too long and the roots turn tough and fibrous. Iowa State University Extension and Oregon State University Extension give consistent size targets and a practical digging cue, and this guide covers both, along with the days-to-maturity figure, the gentle digging method, and the questions the sources leave open.
Quick answer
- Beets can be harvested once the roots are about 1 inch across, but the main crop is usually dug at 1 1/2 to 3 inches.
- Look for the shoulder of the root sticking out above the soil as a sign that it is ready.
- Beets need about 50 to 70 days from planting until harvest, according to Iowa State Extension.
- Dig gently with a shovel or trowel, which is easier when the soil is damp.
How we chose
This guide relies on two university extension pages, both opened on 2026-10-27. Each statement attributed to a source comes from text fetched from that page, and the research note records the exact wording. A Missouri Extension page returned HTTP 403 and is not used. Retail and magazine pages from the same search were not used, and this article does not recommend any products. Two sources are enough because the advice here does not include safety or food-preservation claims.
Check the root size before digging
Size is the most useful signal for harvest. Iowa State University Extension says “beets may be harvested when the roots are 1 inch in diameter.” It then adds that “the main crop usually isn’t harvested until the roots are 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter.” Those two figures describe different stages: the 1-inch stage is good for early pulls, while the 1 1/2 to 3-inch range is the usual target for the main crop.
Oregon State University Extension gives a comparable picture in everyday terms. It says beets “might be the size of a golf ball to the size of a tennis ball” when they are ready. Golf balls and tennis balls are a useful reference when you are checking the row, and they fit the size range the Iowa State page gives.
Avoid letting the roots grow past the target. Iowa State states that “beets larger than 3 inches in diameter are often tough and fibrous.” Oregon State makes the same point from the other direction: “if you wait longer, the beet will get larger. Large beets may be tough and stringy.” Dig at the right size rather than waiting for the biggest roots in the bed.
Look for the shoulder above the soil
Oregon State gives a visual cue that helps when you are deciding whether to dig. It advises harvesting beets “when the ‘shoulder’ (the top part of the beetroot) sticks out above the soil.” The shoulder is the upper part of the root, where the beet widens. When it has pushed up above the soil line, the root has reached the stage Oregon State describes as ready.
The shoulder cue works well alongside a size check. Pull one beet to see its diameter before you commit the whole row. If the root is close to the target size and the shoulder is visible, the rest of the row is probably ready as well. The sources do not say that every beet in a row matures on the same day, so checking a few roots is the safest approach.
| Signal | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Early harvest | Roots about 1 inch in diameter | Iowa State Extension |
| Main crop | Roots 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter | Iowa State Extension |
| Size comparison | Golf ball to tennis ball | Oregon State Extension |
| Visual cue | Shoulder sticking out above the soil | Oregon State Extension |
| Days from planting | About 50 to 70 days | Iowa State Extension |
Use the days to maturity as a guide
Iowa State gives a range of “approximately 50 to 70 days from planting until harvest.” That range is useful for planning, but it is a starting point only. Growing conditions change the timing, so the sources treat size and shoulder as the final test rather than a calendar date. If you are counting from planting, begin checking roots at about the 50-day mark and keep checking until you find roots in the target size range.
Because the range is wide, a simple record of planting dates helps. Write down the date you sowed each row and check it against the 50-to-70-day window. The date gives you a sense of when to start looking, while the root size and shoulder tell you when to dig.
How to dig beets without damaging them
Oregon State University Extension recommends a gentle approach: “use a shovel or trowel to gently dig up your beets, which is easier when the soil is damp.” Oregon State says the work is easier in damp soil, so it is worth waiting for a moist day when you can.
The sources do not describe a specific depth or distance from the row, so check the root as it comes up. The Oregon State text does not mention pulling beets by hand, and this guide does not present that method as one the sources recommend.
Thinning early beets
You do not have to wait for full size to harvest something from the bed. Oregon State notes that early pulls can thin a crowded row, and it advises you to “harvest the thinnings and use in salads.” Thinning gives the remaining roots more room to grow. Each small beet you remove is one less competing for space, so the crop left in the ground has room to size up.
Thinning is a good way to use plants that are too close together. It is also a practical first harvest for people who want to start eating beets before the main crop is ready. For sowing and spacing before you ever thin, see how to grow beetroot from seeds.
Plan the main harvest around the root size
When the roots reach the target size, plan to dig the row soon rather than leaving it. Oregon State warns that waiting makes the beets larger, and large beets may be tough and stringy, so the target size is the point to act on.
Once the roots are out, the sources in this guide do not describe trimming or storage. For general guidance on handling produce after harvest, see the guide to storing freshly harvested vegetables, keeping in mind that the sources in this guide do not give beet-specific storage steps.
What we could not verify
Both sources give useful size and timing guidance, but neither describes the tops or storage. This guide does not state how to trim the foliage or how long beets keep, because the sources in this guide do not cover those steps. The Missouri Extension page that covers harvest and storage returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-27, so its advice is not used here.
What the sources do not say
- How to trim the tops before storage, or how long to store beets.
- Whether beet greens can be harvested and how much to take without harming the root. The Iowa State and Oregon State pages in this guide do not address greens.
- A specific number of days for a given variety. The 50-to-70-day figure is a general range.
- Whether pulling beets by hand damages the roots. The Oregon State page recommends a shovel or trowel and does not compare methods.
Frequently asked questions
How big should beets be when you harvest them?
Iowa State Extension says beets can be harvested at 1 inch in diameter, and that the main crop is usually harvested at 1 1/2 to 3 inches. Oregon State Extension describes ready beets as roughly golf ball to tennis ball size.
How many days until beets are ready?
Iowa State Extension says beets need approximately 50 to 70 days from planting until harvest. Size and the shoulder cue are better tests than the calendar.
What does a beet shoulder look like when it is ready?
Oregon State Extension says to harvest when the shoulder, the top part of the beetroot, sticks out above the soil.
Why do large beets taste tough?
Iowa State Extension says beets larger than 3 inches are often tough and fibrous. Oregon State Extension says large beets may be tough and stringy.
Can you harvest beets early to thin the row?
Yes. Oregon State Extension says to harvest the thinnings and use them in salads.
Sources
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, “When should I harvest beets?” https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-should-i-harvest-beets (opened 2026-10-27)
- Oregon State University Extension Service, “Beets,” https://extension.oregonstate.edu/imported-publication/beets (opened 2026-10-27)
