Your beets need about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week to grow sweet tender roots in your garden. That is how much water beets need whether it comes from rain or your hose. Consistent moisture beets taste better than stressed ones every single time in my tests over the years.
I tested different watering schedules over two growing seasons to see what works best for my crops. The beets I watered on a steady schedule had mild sweet flavor that everyone loved eating. The ones I let dry out between soakings tasted much more earthy and strong which some folks didn't enjoy as much.
Last summer I forgot to water one row for almost two weeks during a hot dry spell. Those beets came out tough and bitter compared to the rest of my patch. I learned my lesson about staying on top of watering after that mistake cost me a whole row of roots.
That earthy beet taste comes from a compound called geosmin in the roots. Plants make more of this stuff when they go through drought stress between waterings. Keeping your soil moist helps beets produce less geosmin and more natural sugars for better flavor overall.
Beet roots can grow 36-48 inches deep into your soil which surprises most gardeners who try them. This means watering beets works best when you soak the soil rather than just wetting the surface quickly. Light daily sprinkles don't reach those deep roots where your plants need the moisture most.
I switched from sprinklers to a soaker hose along my beet rows and saw a big difference in my root quality. The slow deep soak gets water right where my plants can use it without any waste. Drip lines work great too if you have them set up in your garden beds already.
Check your beet water requirements by poking a finger 2 inches deep into the soil near your plants. If that depth feels dry then it is time to water your beets again soon. If it still feels damp you can wait another day or two before giving them more water.
The first 6 weeks after planting matter most for watering since young plants build their root systems then. Don't let soil dry out during this stage or your roots may never size up right at all. After roots bulk up your plants can handle brief dry spells a bit better than before.
Adding 2-3 inches of mulch around your beet plants helps hold moisture in the soil between waterings. Straw or shredded leaves work well and break down to feed your soil over time as a bonus. This simple step cuts your watering work almost in half during hot dry spells.
Read the full article: Growing Beets for Sweet Roots and Greens
