Short answer: soak beet seed for 4 to 6 hours. Spread it thickly on 1 inch of moist soil in a tray, press it in, and cover with a second tray and a light weight for 3 to 4 days. Uncover it when the shoots lift the cover, give it bright light, and water from below. Cut above the soil at 8 to 12 days.
What are beet sprouts?
Beet (Beta vulgaris) is grown at home as a microgreen: young seedlings with glossy red or pink stems and small green or red leaves. When people search for beet sprouts, this is usually what they mean. Beet is slow and grows poorly in a jar, so tray growing on soil works best.
They taste sweet and earthy, like a gentle beetroot, and they're one of the most colourful things you can grow on a windowsill.
Beet varieties
| Variety | Look | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby | Red stems, green leaves | The classic beet microgreen |
| Bull's Blood | Very dark red stems and leaves | The darkest colour |
| Pink | Pink stems | A softer colour |
| Yellow | Golden stems | Mild and bright |
Sprouting.com gives beet 8 to 12 days as a microgreen, with a soak of 4 to 6 hours, and about ¾ cup of microgreens from ¼ cup of seed.1
What you need
- About 20 to 30 g of beet seed for a 10 × 20 inch tray
- A 1020 tray with holes and a solid tray underneath
- About 1 inch (2.5 cm) of moist potting mix
- A second tray or board as a cover, plus a light weight
- A spray bottle and scissors
How to grow beet sprouts as microgreens, day by day
- Day0
Soak for 4–6 hours
Soak the seed in cool water for 4 to 6 hours, then rinse and drain it.
- Day0
Sow thickly
Spread the seed over moist soil so the seeds almost touch. Press them in gently. You can dust a very thin layer of soil on top to help them root.
- Day0–4
Cover and weight
Mist well, then cover with a second tray and a light weight. Mist once a day. Beet is slow to start, so be patient.
- Day4–12
Light and water
When the shoots lift the cover, uncover them and give them bright light. Water from below once a day.
- Day8–12
Cut
Cut above the soil when the seed leaves are fully open and the stems are bright. Shake off any seed caps still attached.
Seed caps. Beet seedlings often come up wearing their hard seed cap. Keeping the tray weighted for the first few days, and misting the tops before you uncover them, helps the leaves shed their caps.
Problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Slow, patchy germination | Normal for beet, or no soak | Soak 4 to 6 hours and keep the tray weighted and covered |
| Seed caps stuck on leaves | Dry tops, no weight | Weight the tray early and mist the tops |
| Pale stems | Too little light | Bright light makes redder stems |
| Floppy greens | Harvested late | Cut at 8 to 12 days |
Beet microgreens and safety
Beet microgreens are cut above the soil, so they're not eaten whole like jar sprouts. Grow them in clean trays and wash them before eating. Research on microgreens shows they can be dense in some vitamins compared with mature leaves, though results vary a lot between crops.2
How to eat beet microgreens
- Garnish: scatter them over soups, risotto or roasted vegetables for colour.
- Salads: mix them with milder greens.
- Grain bowls and tacos: a sweet, earthy finish.
See how to garnish with microgreens and microgreen mixes.
Where to buy beet seed
We link to Sprouting.com, a Canadian company that sells several beets for microgreens. Stock varies by variety, so check the product page. Store seed in a cool, dry place.
What to grow next
- Swiss chard: a close cousin with bright stems.
- Red amaranth: tiny magenta microgreens.
- Red cabbage: purple microgreens, faster than beet.
- Radish: the fastest microgreen to start with.
Browse every seed in the Seed Library.
Recipes with beet
Beet FAQ
How long do beet microgreens take to grow?
About 8 to 12 days from sowing. Beet seed is slower to germinate than brassicas like radish or broccoli, so expect the first sprouts after 3 to 5 days. Harvest when the seed leaves are fully open.
Should I soak beet seeds?
Yes. A 4 to 6 hour soak softens the hard, corky seed and gives a more even tray. Rinse the seeds after soaking.
Why do some beet seeds grow more than one sprout?
Each beet 'seed' is really a cluster of several seeds held together. That's why one seed can send up two or three sprouts. It also means beet trays fill in well even with fewer seeds.
Can you grow beet sprouts in a jar?
Not well. Beet is slow and grows best on soil with light, where it develops its red stems and green leaves. In a jar it tends to go moldy before it's ready.
Do beet microgreens taste like beets?
Yes, mildly. They're sweet and earthy, like a softer beetroot, with a fresh leafy taste. Bull's Blood gives the darkest red colour; yellow beet is a little milder.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
Sources
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Beet product pages (ruby, Bull's Blood, pink, yellow): days to grow, soak time and yield. Link
- Xiao Z, Lester GE, Luo Y, Wang Q. Assessment of vitamin and carotenoid concentrations of emerging food products: edible microgreens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012. Link
