Sugarbeet Development and Growth Staging
Sugarbeets, also known as Beta vulgaris, are root crops grown to produce sucrose (a sugar).¹ They are grown all over the world including North America, Asia, and Europe. In Canada, they are produced exclusively in Alberta and Ontario.² In the United States, they are grown in North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, California, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, and Idaho.² The sugar harvested from sugarbeets is used to produce about 54 per cent of all sugar produced in the United States.¹
While sugarbeets play a significant role in sucrose production, they are also used to produce livestock feed and various industrial products.³ Sugarbeet pulp and tops are both used for livestock feed and feed supplements.
Producing high-yielding, quality sugarbeets requires a strong understanding of their growth throughout production. A deep understanding of each stage of development will help you better manage the crop from planting to harvest. Certain fertility decisions are only effective at specific stages of development, and factors like the climate and soil conditions can impact the evolution of growth. Thus, it is important to better understand a sugarbeet’s growth stages and development cycle to make more informed management decisions while meeting your productivity and profitability goals. Knowing what stage of growth your sugarbeets are in will also allow you to better manage their health, assess crop quality, and determine the best time to harvest.
Sugarbeets follow 12 stages of growth, beginning at germination and completing at harvest. Throughout production, sugarbeet roots store sugar to use as an energy source over the winter. The sugar is then harvested from the roots at the end of production.
Click on each of the MORE buttons below to explore each stage of growth and important considerations to make during each.
Planting in Canada and the United States
- Sugarbeets are typically planted in Canada by the end of April and harvested in September.¹
- Sugarbeets are typically planted in the United States in late March or early April. Harvest takes place in late September and October.
- Optimal temperatures for the first 90 days of growth fall between 60 and 80°F (15 to 26°C).³
Sources:
¹What is a Sugarbeet? – American Sugarbeet Growers Association
