Growing Guide: Beets, Radishes & Turnips (USDA Zones 9–10, Bay Area)

Cool nights + mild days = root-crop heaven. In the Bay Area, you can direct-sow beets, radishes, and turnips from late summer into fall and keep a steady harvest rolling with small, regular sowings. These three fit almost any space—tight beds, half barrels, or a sunny strip along the path.

Below is a simple, microclimate-aware plan that gets you crisp, sweet roots without fuss.

What to Plant / Key Actions

Coast & Fog Belt

• Direct-sow all three now; growth is steady and tender.

• Keep seed zone evenly moist; row cover helps with leafminer/flea beetle nibbling.

Bay Flats

• Sow beets + salad turnips now; start radishes every 7–10 days for a weekly pull.

• Thin early so roots size up (crowding = all tops, tiny roots).

Inland & Hills

• Wait for a cooler week or use afternoon shade cloth; mulch to hold moisture.

• Harvest on time—heat can make radishes spicy and turnips strong.

Fast picks

• Beets: ‘Detroit Dark Red’, ‘Chioggia’, ‘Touchstone Gold’.

• Radishes: ‘Cherry Belle’, ‘Easter Egg’; try a daikon in October.

• Turnips: ‘Hakurei/Tokyo Market’ (salad), ‘Scarlet Queen’.

Step-By-Step Basics

1. Prep

   Loosen 6–8”, mix in compost. For containers: use quality potting mix.

   Depth guide: radish 6–9”, beet 12–18”, turnip 12”+.

2. Sow & Thin

   • Beet: sow thinly; each seed is a cluster—thin to one seedling every 4”.

   • Radish: sow ½” deep; thin to 1–2”. Succession every 7–10 days.

   • Turnip: thin to 4–6”.

3. Watering

   Keep soil evenly moist (not soggy), especially during the first 2–3 weeks and while roots size up.

4. Light Pest Watch

   Snip off beet leaves with leafminer tunnels; use lightweight row cover if flea beetles leave shot-holes.

5. Harvest Cues

   • Radish: ready fast—pull when smooth and firm (don’t wait).

   • Turnip (salad types): golf-ball to small tennis-ball.

   • Beet: 1–3” for tenderness; greens are edible anytime.

GrowBot did some digging… “Sow a thin radish line right over your beet row. Radishes pop first, mark the line, and become snacks—while beets spread out and bulk up. Win-win.”

Need more info?

Variety matchups by microclimate, a printable spacing/containers cheat-sheet, and an 8-week succession plan. The Premium Masterclass goes deeper with pest fixes, container layouts, and an on-brand spacing diagram ready to drop into your garden journal.