VegetablesBeet
Beta vulgaris
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in pots
Beets are cool-season root vegetables you can sow straight into the garden or into pots. They need steady moisture, and seedlings usually need thinning.
How to grow beet
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Comparing Beet vs. English Cucumber vs. Artichoke
The comparison
Beet vs. English Cucumber vs. Artichoke
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Challenging |
| Life cycle | Not yet verified | Annual | Not yet verified |
| Germination time | Not yet verified | 5–10 days | 8–12 days |
| Germination temperature | 7–29 °C45–84 °F | 18–29 °C64–84 °F | 21–26 °C70–79 °F |
| Sowing depth | 1.5 cm½ in | 2.5 cm1 in | 6 mm¼ in |
| Spacing between plants | Not yet verified | 23–30 cm9–12 in | 46 cm18 in |
| Days to maturity | Not yet verified | 50–65 days from sowing | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Not yet verified | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | High | Not yet verified |
| Containers | Yes, 1.9 L or largerYes, 2 qt or larger | Yes, 3.8 L or largerYes, 1 gal or larger | Not yet verified |
| Frost tolerance | Half-hardy (light frost) | Tender (no frost) | Not yet verified |
| Soil pH | pH 6.0–8.0 | pH 6.0–6.5 | pH 6.5–8.0 |
| Links |
Up close
Meet the seeds
What each one is, in a few lines, with the full growing guide one click away.
- Vegetables
- Vegetables
English Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Difficulty: ModerateGrows in potsA warm-season annual vine grown for crisp, long fruit. Sow after the last frost in full sun, keep the soil evenly moist, and expect to manage pollination, bitterness and pests.
How to grow english cucumber - Vegetables
Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Difficulty: ChallengingGlobe artichokes are large, thistle-like plants grown for their edible flower buds. They need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Seed results are variable, so many growers start with plants or divisions.
How to grow artichoke
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Beet vs. Acorn SquashBeet against another vegetable- English Cucumber vs. Acorn SquashEnglish Cucumber against another vegetable
- Artichoke vs. Acorn SquashArtichoke against another vegetable
Beet vs. Armenian CucumberBeet against another vegetable- English Cucumber vs. Armenian CucumberEnglish Cucumber against another vegetable
- Artichoke vs. Armenian CucumberArtichoke against another vegetable
The table, row by row
How to read a comparison
Every row is a fact from each seed's own profile, lined up so the differences stand out.
Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
Comparing
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Each seed's page explains how to grow it from seed, with facts researched and reviewed by our editors.
