sugar beet herbicide guide High-Energy Sugar Beets: Essential Food for Wildlife – Hale Habitat & SeedSugar Beets High Sugar Root Crop for Late Season Attraction Hale Habitat & Seeds Sugar Beets are a premium cool season root crop selected for powerful late season attraction and unmatched energy content. Known for producing large, sugar rich bulbs and lush leafy tops, sugar beets provide a highly palatable food source as temperatures drop and natural forage becomes scarce. As frost approaches and sugars concentrate in the roots, these beets become an

Sugar Beets

High-Sugar Root Crop for Late-Season Attraction

Hale Habitat & Seed’s Sugar Beets are a premium cool-season root crop selected for powerful late-season attraction and unmatched energy content. Known for producing large, sugar-rich bulbs and lush leafy tops, sugar beets provide a highly palatable food source as temperatures drop and natural forage becomes scarce.

As frost approaches and sugars concentrate in the roots, these beets become an irresistible draw for deer and other wildlife — making them a go-to choice for hunters and habitat managers alike.

Increase late-season attraction. Add underground energy. Plant with confidence.

Coated Seed Option Available

We also offer Sugar Beet seed coated with a lime-based seed treatment that helps create a more favorable micro-environment in the soil. The coating improves early germination and emergence — especially in soils with lower pH — and promotes stronger, more consistent stands.

• Lime seed coating buffers acidity at the seed zone
• Improves early root development and seedling vigor
• Enhances seed flow and plantability in drills or broadcast spreaders
• Helps ensure more uniform establishment in challenging soils

Benefits for Wildlife

• High-sugar bulbs deliver late-season energy deer seek
• Leafy tops provide attractive forage in early fall
• Excellent draw as frost sweetens root sugars
• Great addition to cool-season blends or standalone plots
• Encourages repeat visits and prolonged feed periods

Planting Guidelines

• Seeding Rate: 15–20 lb per acre
• Planting Depth: ½–1 inch
• Best Planting Window: Late summer through early fall (allow 45–60 days before first frost)
• Site Prep:
  • Plant into a firm, weed-free seedbed
  • Ensure strong seed-to-soil contact for uniform emergence

Soil & Maintenance Tips

• Conduct a soil test and adjust pH to recommended levels
• Sugar beets prefer fertile soils with adequate phosphorus and potassium
• Avoid deep planting — shallow coverage ensures stronger emergence
• Monitor early weed pressure to protect young seedlings

Herbicide Use for Sugar Beets

Sugar beets can be sensitive to weed competition during early growth stages, making proper weed management essential for successful establishment. Both pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicide programs may be used where labeled for sugar beets.

• Apply only herbicides specifically labeled for use on sugar beets
• Follow all label directions, application timing, and rate recommendations
• Consider a pre-plant burndown to eliminate existing vegetation before planting
• Early-season weed control is critical to protect young seedlings
• Always consult local extension recommendations for region-specific guidance

Always read and follow pesticide label instructions. The label is the law.