Detroit Dark Red

Family: Amaranthaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Detroit Dark Red to a garden.

Sweet, earthy-sweet flavor blooms with a rich, velvety depth in Detroit Dark Red, where the roots shine in deep crimson-red and hold their color beautifully.

Expect tender, fine-grained texture that stays pleasantly crisp, with greens that rise in a sturdy, upright habit for an abundant harvest. Ideal for roasting, fresh slicing, and vibrant pickling, this classic red beet delivers reliable performance for gardeners who want bold color and memorable taste in every bed.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Detroit Dark Red

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Detroit Dark Red 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)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Detroit Dark Red is built for high-heat transformation: it roasts into tender, fine-grained flesh without turning grainy, and its crimson pigments hold under acid. Use it for pickles and purées where you want that earthy-sweet bite to stay vivid, not dull.

Best Uses

roasting whole with skins on, then slicing for glossy wedges
quick-pickling for ruby coins that keep their color
grating raw for crisp, staining salads and slaws
simmering into a silky purée for swirls on yogurt or potato

Flavor Profile

sweet-earth aroma fine-grained, tender snap deep crimson-earthiness that stays clean lightly mineral finish

Kitchen Pairings

goat cheese balsamic vinegar horseradish walnuts orange black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Detroit Dark Red beets developing black, crusty spots or rotting near the soil line—what should I do?

This is often stem-end/foliar fungal rot or poor emergence related to consistently wet soil and reduced airflow. Water early in the day, keep the bed evenly moist (not soggy), and thin seedlings promptly so leaves don’t stay packed and damp. Remove heavily affected plants, avoid overhead watering, and consider switching to a mulch that keeps beet crowns drier while still holding moisture.

How often should I water Detroit Dark Red beets during the main growing phase to get firm roots?

After seedlings establish, water about 1 inch per week total, split into 2–3 sessions during dry spells, aiming for evenly moist soil 4–6 inches down. If the surface dries out completely between waterings, roots can become woody; if it stays waterlogged, plants are prone to rot. Check by feel: the top 1–2 inches should be slightly moist, not muddy.

How can I tell when Detroit Dark Red beets (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when roots are roughly 1.5–3 inches across, typically around 55 days from sowing for Detroit Dark Red. You’ll see the beet tops push up at the soil surface, and older, larger roots that grow past this size often become tougher. Pull a test beet first—if the skin is glossy and the flesh is deep red with good firmness, harvest the rest.