When to Plant Beetroot in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow July to April. Right now in September you can sow.

Also called beet.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Beetroot guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Beetroot

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Beetroot is one of the easiest root vegetables for Australian home gardeners, tolerant of a wide range of climates and soils. It produces both edible roots and nutritious greens, making it a dual-purpose crop. Nearly pest-free and quick to mature, it is an ideal beginner vegetable that can be grown year-round in most Australian zones.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D - - S S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Beetroot sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Beetroot included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 7–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Beetroot in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

September to March. Soil must be above 7C for germination. Start under cloches in September for early crops. Late sowings (February-March) mature through autumn.

Soil
Well-drained, loose loam or sandy loam enriched with compost. Avoid heavy clay unless amended. Do NOT add fresh manure. It causes forked, hairy roots.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates.
Spacing
10cm apart, 30cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture is critical. Irregular watering causes woody, cracked roots. Water deeply 2-3 times per week. Drip irrigation or soaker hose preferred. Overhead watering in humid zones promotes ce

Companion plants: Onion, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Cabbage, Dwarf Beans, Dill

Avoid planting near: Runner Beans, Charlock (wild mustard), Field Mustard

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Beetroot

Recommended Varieties

  • Detroit Dark Red
  • Boltardy
  • Chioggia
  • Early Wonder
  • Pablo F1

Key Challenges

  • Slow germination in cold soil
  • Downy mildew in cool damp weather
  • Short growing season

Pro Tips

  • Pre-warm soil with black plastic for 2 weeks before spring sowing
  • Sow in modules undercover from August, transplant out in September
  • Detroit Dark Red is the proven workhorse variety for Melbourne gardens

Harvesting Beetroot

When ready: Roots visible at soil surface, typically 5-8cm diameter. Shoulders push above soil line. Leaves still green and vigorous. Baby beets can be harvested from 4 weeks at 3-4cm diameter.

How to harvest: Gently loosen soil with a garden fork alongside the row, then pull roots. Do not cut roots. Twist off tops leaving 3-5cm of stem to prevent bleeding. Handle carefully to avoid bruising.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 46 plants, about $121 worth at today’s Aldi and Woolworths prices, checked today.

That is roughly 12 kg at $10.48 a kilo.

Draw your beetroot bed → No account needed.

Common Beetroot Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Leaf Spot, risk: MODERATE (score: 48/100)

Organic prevention: Crop rotation. Remove plant debris after harvest. Avoid planting near spinach and silverbeet which share the same leaf miner species.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What beetroot costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your beetroot: Cutworms.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $10.48/kg (12-month range: $9.96–$12.80)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Beetroot

When do you plant beetroot in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does beetroot grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is beetroot called?

Beetroot is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it beet. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.