One inch (2.5 cm) of water per week is ideal for beet plants. Fresh beets are not a thirsty crop and don’t require much water for strong root development. As long as you keep the soil moist, most varieties of beets will thrive with this amount of water. Because of how little water is needed, drip irrigation is a highly recommended method for watering beets.
How Much Water Do Beets Need Per Day?
Daily watering is unnecessary and can damage the health of your beets. Instead, keep the soil moist by watering your beets 1 time per week in cool, cloudy weather. Then, increase watering to 2–3 times weekly in hot temperatures if the soil begins to dry out from a lot of sun between waterings.
- Beets do not need to be watered every day.
- Water beets once per week when temperatures are below 85℉ (30℃).
- Increase watering to 2–3 times weekly when temperatures rise above 85℉ or when the soil is dry.
- Keep the soil consistently moist to grow the best beet crop.
When watering beets, the goal is to keep the soil moist, but not wet or muddy. A good soak 1–2 times weekly is usually best for promoting a moist root zone. Then, when the soil dries again, your beets need more water.
How Do You Water Beets?
Drip irrigation is the best method of watering beets. Beets like to be surrounded by consistently moist soil. Using drip irrigation ensures that the surrounding soil never dries out. Plus, you can set your irrigation system to maintain a specific moisture level. This will maintain the perfect level of moisture for your beet patch.
- Drip irrigation is the best method of watering beets.
- Use this garden drip irrigation kit to maintain the right level of soil moisture for beets.
- A watering can will work if drip irrigation is not feasible.
Watering cans are the next best way of watering beets. You only need to water 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) deep, depending on how developed the beet root is. As long as the vegetable portion of the beet is watered, your plant will grow well. Water around the leafy portion a few inches (7–10 cm) in every direction until the soil is moist. Wait a few minutes, then check to make sure that your soil remains moist. If it doesn’t not, water again until the ground stays moist for a few minutes after watering.
Do Beets Like Wet or Dry Soil?
Beets are most content when their soil is moist. They don’t grow well when the soil dries out and they struggle when the water pools too much. Check your beets daily to observe the soil conditions. The soil should be slightly moist at a depth of 3 inches (7.5 cm). If it is dry at this depth, your beets need water.
- Beets grow best in consistently moist soil.
- Very dry soil—as well as soggy soil with standing water—is harmful to beets.
- Soil that is slightly moist at a depth of 3 inches (7.5 cm) is perfect for beets.
- You can check the soil where your beets are growing by using this moisture meter.
You can check your beets’ soil moisture with your finger or by using a moisture meter. If you’re a beginning grower, a soil moisture meter can be helpful as you learn to identify soil conditions.
Can You Overwater Beets?
It’s extremely easy to overwater beets. Beets need relatively little water and struggle in wet conditions. In most cases, if your beets get much more than 1 inch (2.5) of water a week, they will suffer. Some signs of overwatering include leaf drooping, fungal disease, and discoloration.
- It’s easy to overwater beets since they don’t require much water.
- Flooded soil, standing water, and muddy conditions are too wet for beets.
- Overwatered beets will droop and begin to lose their leaves.
- If overwatering conditions are present for too long, fungal disease and root rot can set in.
Soil conditions can also affect whether or not your beets get overwatered. Check the surrounding soil to make sure there is good soil drainage. You don’t want water pooling and turning your beet garden swampy.
How Do You Know If Beets Need Water?
Beets showcase the classic signs of underwatering: wilting or drooping leaves and yellowing beet greens. However, it’s best to avoid waiting for these conditions by watering preemptively. Check the soil where your beets are growing. If it feels dry at a depth of 3 inches (7.5 cm), the plants need water.
- The most obvious sign your beets need water is if the surrounding soil is too dry.
- If beets are deprived of water for too long, their leaves will wilt and turn yellow.
- Avoid beet wilting by following a watering schedule.
Set a schedule for watering your beets in order to avoid starving them. Although you may need to adjust your schedule when temperatures rise, watering 1–2 times each week is typically sufficient.
Do Beets Require Lots of Water?
Beets do not require much water but they need consistent moisture. Drip irrigation is usually the best method of providing consistent moisture but there are other methods too. Here are the key things to remember when it comes to watering beets:
- Beets only need 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week.
- Drip irrigation is the best watering method but watering cans work too.
- Water a few inches around the beet plant until the soil is moistened 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) deep.
- It is easy to overwater beets—use a moisture meter to avoid this possibility.
- You’ll know a beet plant needs watering if the ground around it looks parched.
Beets are a fantastic vegetable that are well worth growing for the health benefits. With the above tips and a few helpful tools, you’ll be sure to grow a great beet crop.
