When to Plant Beetroot in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Sow year round in Perth. That includes right now, in October.

Also called beet.

Planting window
Can be sown all year. The main windows are autumn (March to May) and spring (August to October), and January sowings need extra water in...
Days to harvest
55 days
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates.
Water needs
Consistent moisture is critical. Irregular watering causes woody, cracked roots. Water...
Spacing
10cm apart, 30cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Shop price
$10.48/kg average

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

This Beetroot guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

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.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Mediterranean

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

You can sow beetroot in any month in Mediterranean, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.

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

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean 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: 15.6°C (optimal range: 7–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

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

What this month normally looks like

In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Beetroot in Mediterranean Australia

When to Plant

Can be sown all year. The main windows are autumn (March to May) and spring (August to October), and January sowings need extra water in Perth and Adelaide heat.

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...

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

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

Grow before, grow after

Beetroot belongs with the root crops, the roots and alliums turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
Grow after it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)

Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Beetroot

Recommended Varieties

  • Detroit Dark Red
  • Chioggia
  • Cylindra
  • Golden
  • Pablo F1

Key Challenges

  • Dry summers requiring consistent irrigation
  • Sandy soils in Perth needing amendment
  • Nematodes in warm sandy soils

Pro Tips

  • Autumn sowings coincide with first rains and produce excellent roots
  • Amend Perth's sandy soils heavily with compost and bentonite clay
  • Adelaide hills elevation gives longer growing window than plains

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.

Preserving: pressure canning

2 tested pressure-canning recipes for Beetroot: 2 where it is the crop being canned. Each one comes from published home canning guidelines. The conversion to Australian units is ours, with psi beside every kPa. Always follow your pressure canner's manual.

Recipes in this set

  • Beetroot, whole, cubed or sliced
  • Beets

The full recipe details are for members on a paid plan: jar sizes, headspace, process time, the pressure for a weighted or dial gauge at your altitude, the ingredients, the preparation steps and the safety notes.

See the plans

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 Mediterranean Zones

Leaf Spot, risk: MODERATE (score: 40/100)

In the pest library for beetroot:

Cutworms, moderate severity Wireworms, moderate severity

Organic prevention (Leaf Miner): 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 mediterranean zone this October: Lemongrass, Dwarf Beans (Bush), Eggplant (Aubergine) and Parsnip.

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 Perth?

Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Mediterranean zone, though not every month is equally easy. Can be sown all year. The main windows are autumn (March to May) and spring (August to October), and January sowings need extra water in Perth and Adelaide heat.

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 Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.