90 DAYS
Beta vulgaris
Sugar beets are an increasingly popular choice for wildlife food plots, attracting deer by the dozens. Not limited to wildlife, they also serve as a valuable feed source for livestock, with their nutrient-rich tops able to be used as silage. This large root vegetable can weigh between 2 to 4 lb. when mature, boasting a high sugar content with 13 to 22 percent sucrose, making it both a palatable and nutritious option in your garden or farm.
Size: Roots reach 2 to 4 lb. with shiny, white surfaces.
Yield: Planting 500 g can cover approximately 700 sq. ft.
Taste: Naturally sweet with high sugar content, ideal for livestock and wildlife.
How to use: Use roots as feed for livestock or in food plots to attract deer.
Planting tips: Sow seeds in prepared seed beds with moist, well-drained soil, 3/4 to 1.5 in. deep, spaced 1 in. apart. Thin seedlings to 10 to 12 in. apart when they have 4 to 6 leaves. Rows should be spaced 18 to 24 in. apart. Optimal soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.5.
Harvest tips: Sugar beets cease growing when exposed to hard frost; ensure timely harvesting before this occurs.
