When to Plant Beetroot in Sydney, Warm 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 Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
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 Warm 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
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 17.0°C (optimal range: 7–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Sydney), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Beetroot in Warm Temperate Australia
When to Plant
Almost year-round: August to May. Avoid hottest weeks in January-February. Spring and autumn are peak planting times.
- 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
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Beetroot
Recommended Varieties
- Detroit Dark Red
- Chioggia (Bulls Eye)
- Cylindra
- Golden
- Boltardy
Key Challenges
- Summer heat causing bolting
- Leaf miners in warm months
- Cercospora in humid autumn
Pro Tips
- Two main windows: September-November and February-April
- Boltardy lives up to its name for spring sowings with less premature bolting
- Cylindra produces uniform cylindrical roots that slice evenly, great for pickling
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 Warm Temperate Zones
Organic prevention: Crop rotation. Remove plant debris after harvest. Avoid planting near spinach and silverbeet which share the same leaf miner species.
Where to next
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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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon 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:
- Tropical (Cairns): Feb to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
Does beetroot grow all year round in Sydney?
No. In the Warm 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.