How much water do beets need?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.How to Produce Beets with perfect hydration begins by understanding the plant. I lost a crop once because of not watering consistently, and the roots split like broken glass. At that point, I began to use a rain gauge systematically to monitor and record rainfall. Beets love the predictability of consistent watering. Their tender roots need consistent moisture levels to swell uniformly.
Weekly Water Needs
- Provide 1 inch (2.5 cm) weekly through rain or irrigation
- Increase to 1.5 inches during heatwaves above 85°F (29°C)
- Reduce frequency if soil remains soggy for 24+ hours
Soil Moisture Management
- Test soil by squeezing, should form a loose ball that crumbles
- Mulch with straw or shredded leaves to retain moisture
- Avoid overhead watering to prevent leaf diseases like Cercospora
Cracked roots are a more certain signal of distress than any horror-movie scream from a plant. My neighbor's beets have split sickly and unsettling after cycling between drought and a deluge of rain. Plants will maintain consistent cell expansion with consistent moisture so that when moisture bursts, it cracks. You can use a tuna can and empty it to set as a rain gauge -- when it's empty, it's time to water. Simple tools can help your flowers or food from having complex failures.
Watering frequency is determined by soil texture. In my sandy soil at the coast, three soaking portions of water weekly are needed. In contrast, in clay-rich soils 10 miles inland, one deep watering is usually sufficient during the week. To check moisture levels, insert your finger into the soil up to the second knuckle; if it is dry, it is time to water. You will learn about your soil and its personality.
Beets that are watered too much can become starved for oxygen. As I noticed last season with their yellowing lower leaves and stunted growth, adequate drainage is important. Now, I plant in raised garden beds amended with some perlite, where roots can easily breathe, sugars can concentrate, and the beets are sweeter than ever at harvest time.
Read the full article: How to Grow Beets: Expert Tips for Sweet Roots & Vibrant Greens
