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A white Sugar beet with a large tapered white root and green tops in a sunny garden.

How to Grow Sugar Beets From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Sugar beet is the one to grow when you want serious sweetness from your garden. Instead of the familiar round red root, it forms a large, tapered white beet packed with an exceptionally high sugar content. Gardeners have grown it for generations as a source of natural sweetness, and you can even boil the roots down into your own syrup. This heirloom, non-GMO variety needs a long, cool season and is ready in about 90 to 95 days.

This is the quick guide to Sugar. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting beets, see our complete guide to growing beets from seed.

Quick start

Direct sow Sugar beet seeds about half an inch deep in deep, loose soil in early spring, since this is a long-season crop that needs 90 to 95 days to mature. Each wrinkled seed is a cluster, so thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart, and give a little extra room for the large roots to develop. Keep the soil evenly moist and weed-free all season. Harvest the big white roots in fall before a hard freeze.

Best tip

Give Sugar beets a long, cool growing season and deep, well-worked soil so the tapered roots can grow large and sweet. This variety thrives in northern gardens with long seasons like the Upper Midwest, the Dakotas, and the Pacific Northwest, where cool fall weather concentrates the sugar just before harvest.

At a glance

How to Grow Sugar Beets From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Beta vulgaris
Plant type	Cool-season biennial grown as an annual
USDA zones	2 to 11 (grown as an annual)
Sun	Full sun to part shade (6+ hours)
Days to maturity	90 to 95 days
Height	12 to 18 inches
Spacing	3 to 4 inches apart
Water	Even and consistent; about 1 inch a week

Uses

Sugar beet lives up to its name with an exceptionally high sugar content, and it has been grown for generations as a source of natural sweetness. The large white roots can be slow-boiled down into a rich, homemade sweet syrup, and they are also good roasted or added to hearty soups and stews. The greens are edible too, cooked like chard. It is a rewarding long-season project for patient gardeners.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Sugar beets take to mature?

Sugar beets are a long-season crop that needs about 90 to 95 days to mature. Sow them in early spring so the big roots have the full season to develop, and harvest in fall before a hard freeze. The extra time in cool weather is what builds up their high sugar content.

What do Sugar beets look and taste like?

Sugar beets grow a large, tapered white root that looks quite different from the round red beets most people know. As the name suggests, they have an exceptionally high sugar content and a clean, sweet taste. The white flesh means no red staining while you prepare them.

What is the best way to use Sugar beets?

Sugar beets have traditionally been grown for their natural sweetness, and the large white roots can be slow-boiled down into a rich, homemade sweet syrup. They are also good roasted or added to hearty soups and stews. The leafy greens are edible too, cooked like chard.

Any growing tips for Sugar beets?

Give Sugar beets deep, loose, well-worked soil and a little extra spacing so the large tapered roots can grow to full size. Direct sow the seeds about half an inch deep, and since each wrinkled seed is a cluster, thin the seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart. Keep the soil evenly moist and weed-free through the long season for the biggest, sweetest roots.

Ready to grow your own? Plant a packet of Sugar beet seeds and grow big, sweet white roots you can boil down into your own natural syrup. For the full step-by-step, see our complete beet growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Sugar Beet Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Sugar Beet — high-sugar white roots for syrup and forage.

Price$4.99

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Want more beets? These value packs pair Sugar with other varieties:

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Rare Beet Seeds Variety Pack – Non-GMO Heirloom10 rare beet varietiesTen rare beet varieties in one pack, from deep red and golden to candy-striped Chioggia. The easiest way to grow a whole rainbow of roots.

Price$16.99 Sale Price$14.99

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.