Golden Beet
Zinnia elegans
Recommended by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. This vigorous all-season producer holds up well in summer rain and heat all over the country. Densely petaled blooms are up to 6" across. Long-lasting standouts in bouquets. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. Colors include deep red, orange, carmine rose, coral, lime, wine, purple, bright pink, white, salmon rose, scarlet, and golden yellow.
Harvest
75-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
ZIN-ee-ah el-eh-GANZ
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Golden Beet in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
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Golden Beet · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | April – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: ZIN-ee-ah el-eh-GANZ. Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Type: Achene.
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Storage & Preservation
Store unwashed golden beets in perforated plastic bags in your refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32-40°F with high humidity. They'll maintain peak quality for 3-4 months when stored properly – significantly longer than red varieties. Keep the trimmed greens separate and use within 3-4 days.
For long-term preservation, blanch whole small beets for 25-30 minutes, slip off skins, then freeze in containers for up to 8 months. Golden beets pickle beautifully and maintain their sunny color – slice thin and use a standard brine recipe. They also dehydrate well when cooked and sliced, creating sweet chips that store for months. Unlike red beets, golden varieties won't bleed color during preservation, making them ideal for mixed vegetable preparations.
History & Origin
Golden beets trace their lineage to ancient Mediterranean sugar beets, but the modern garden varieties we know today were developed through selective breeding in European monastery gardens during the 16th century. French gardeners particularly prized these 'betteraves dorées' for their ability to create colorful dishes without staining.
The variety gained popularity in American gardens during the 1980s when heirloom vegetables experienced a renaissance. Home gardeners and chefs discovered that golden beets offered all the nutritional benefits and earthy sweetness of traditional red beets while solving the practical problem of stained hands, cutting boards, and clothing.
Today's golden beet varieties like 'Burpee Golden' and 'Chioggia Golden' are stabilized heirloom strains that breed true from seed. They represent centuries of careful selection for color stability, sweetness, and that characteristic tender texture that made them favorites in European kitchen gardens. Their cultural significance extends beyond mere convenience – golden beets symbolized prosperity and sunshine in medieval feast preparations.
Advantages
- +Wildlife value: Attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and pollinators
- +Fast-growing
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Lettuce
Shallow roots don't compete with beet taproot, provides living mulch
Onions
Repel beet leaf miners and other pests that damage beet foliage
Garlic
Deters aphids, flea beetles, and fungal diseases affecting beets
Cabbage
Both benefit from similar soil conditions and growing requirements
Swiss Chard
Same family as beets, compatible growth habits and nutrient needs
Bush Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil which beets can utilize for leaf development
Radishes
Break up compacted soil helping beet root expansion, mature quickly
Carrots
Different root depths minimize competition, both tolerate similar conditions
Keep Apart
Pole Beans
Stunts beet growth and reduces root development quality
Field Mustard
Inhibits beet germination and early growth through allelopathic compounds
Fennel
Releases growth-inhibiting chemicals that reduce beet yield and vigor
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2685576)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance
Common Pests
Leaf miners, aphids, flea beetles
Diseases
Cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew, root rot