Avalanche

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Avalanche to a garden.

Silky-white roots emerge with a luminous, pearly glow, their smooth skin and crisp snap promising a clean, sweet bite.

“Avalanche” beets develop a tidy, round-to-slightly-flattened shape that stays tender through the 55-day season, with a pale interior that cooks up evenly and holds its brightness for vibrant color in salads, roasts, and pickles. Grow them for fresh slicing, quick roasting, or for strikingly pale pickled rounds that look as refined as they taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Avalanche Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

With a pale, evenly cooked interior, Avalanche is built for dishes where you want beet sweetness and tenderness without the heavy, grayish bleed. It shines in shaved salads and quick heat, then keeps its bright look when you pickle for that clean, luminous crunch.

Best Uses

raw or lightly shaved salads where the pale color stays visually crisp
quick roasting or steaming for evenly tender slices that don’t blotchy-cook
pale pickled rounds that stay elegant and glassy, not murky
thin-sliced sheet-pan roasting with a glossy vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

clean, sweet beet flavor crisp-to-tender bite without turning woody light, earthy finish bright, even-cooked interior

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese balsamic vinegar butter fresh dill horseradish arugula

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (beets), and what should I do?

A common issue is Cercospora leaf spot, which shows as small brown to gray spots with yellow halos on beet leaves. Remove and destroy heavily spotted foliage, improve airflow by thinning seedlings, and avoid wetting leaves when you water. If the problem spreads, use a labeled fungicide for leaf spot on edible beet greens and repeat as directed.

How often should I water Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris during the main growing phase?

During active leaf and root growth, keep soil evenly moist—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 deeper waterings if it’s hot or dry. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the root zone to fully dry out, or roots can become woody and cracked. Mulch helps maintain steady moisture for consistent bulking over the last few weeks before harvest.

How can I tell when Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris is ready to harvest?

Harvest when roots reach the size you want, typically around 50–60 days after sowing; many home gardeners start picking at about 1.5–2.5 inches (4–6 cm) diameter. You’ll also see the roots lifting slightly at the soil surface and the greens looking vigorous. For best tenderness, pull a test row and harvest the rest promptly at similar size.