Rainbow Beet Mix

Rainbow Beet seeds produce a stunning mix of colorful beets in shades of deep red, golden yellow, orange, pink, and candy-striped red and white. This vibrant blend brings beauty to both the garden and the kitchen, offering a variety of colors, flavors, and textures in every harvest. The roots are sweet, tender, and delicious roasted, pickled, juiced, or eaten fresh, while the nutritious greens can be harvested young for salads and sautéing.

Rainbow Beet seeds are an excellent choice for gardeners who want diversity in their harvest without planting multiple varieties separately. As with all beets, they grow best in loose, well-worked soil and benefit from consistent moisture. Beets are happiest when they are given appropriate spacing and thinned.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• In mild areas of Zones 9 and 10, Rainbow Beet seeds can be planted year-round.
• Beets thrive in cool weather and appreciate regular moisture.
• If planting during warmer months, provide additional irrigation and use shade cloth or row cover to protect young seedlings from excessive heat.

Zones 2-8

• Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost or direct sow once soil temperatures reach at least 60°F.
• Beets tolerate cool temperatures and perform best during spring and fall growing seasons.

Planting Beet Seeds

• Rainbow Beet seeds can be direct sown or transplanted.
• When starting seeds in flats or starter pots, sow seeds 1/2″ deep into thoroughly moistened, high-quality potting soil. Fertilize with an organic liquid fertilizer two weeks after germination. Transplant seedlings when they are approximately 5-6 weeks old, spacing plants at least 3″ apart.
• For direct sowing, plant seeds in loose, debris-free soil. Water gently after planting and cover with 1/2″ of finely sifted soil.

Growing Beets

• Rainbow Beets are easy to grow and require little maintenance.
• Provide regular moisture and loose soil to encourage uniform root development.
• Amending soil with compost helps improve drainage, moisture retention, and overall root quality.
• Thin seedlings as needed to maintain at least 3″ of spacing between plants.

Succession Planting Beets

• For a continuous harvest, sow Rainbow Beet seeds every two weeks throughout the growing season.
• Succession planting ensures a steady supply of colorful roots and nutritious greens.

Growing Beets in Containers

• Rainbow Beets grow exceptionally well in containers.
• Choose containers that are at least 10″ deep to allow roots adequate room to develop.
• Containers dry out more quickly than garden beds, so monitor soil moisture closely.

Harvesting Beets

• Rainbow Beets can be harvested at baby size for tender roots or allowed to mature for larger harvests.
• For the best flavor and texture, harvest roots before they exceed 4″ in diameter.
• Beet greens may be harvested throughout the growing season without significantly affecting root production, provided some foliage remains on the plant.

Southern California Pro-tips

• Rainbow Beets are one of the easiest root crops to grow in Southern California gardens.
• Apply a layer of mulch around plants to keep soil temperatures cool and conserve moisture.
• During the hottest months of August, September, and October, consider using shade cloth or waiting for cooler temperatures before planting.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Rainbow Beets fit beautifully into small spaces and can be interplanted with larger crops.
• We often grow beets between broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce to maximize garden space.
• In the cooler months, Rainbow Beets pair beautifully with nasturtiums, poppies, cosmos, calendula, and borage.
• Plant alongside other root crops such as carrots and radishes for a colorful and productive cool-season garden.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, beets are a very easy crop.
• Mulch heavily around your beet plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. If your area gets extreme heat, we recommend that you take these months off from planting cool-season plants and resume in the cool weather. You can use shade cloth or row cover to help protect the plants from extreme heat.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Beets are a small crop that can be interplanted with other crops very easily. We plant beets almost year round and plant them around other crops where we can find space. In the cooler months, beets look beautiful popping up between nasturtiums, poppies, cosmos, and borage.
• Plant several varieties alongside Golden Beet for a long harvest window and to enjoy a variety of colors, flavors, and textures. Try our Bulls Blood, Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia Beet, and more. Shop all Beet varieties here.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in depth information for pests that can be an issue to beets at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.