In biology, the BBCH-scale for beet describes the phenological development of beet plants using the BBCH-scale.

The phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of beet are:

Growth stageCodeDescription0: Germination00 Dry seed01 Beginning of imbibition: seeds begins to take up water03 Seed imbibition complete (pellet cracked)05 Radicle emerged from seed (pellet)07 Shoot emerged from seed (pellet)09 Emergence: shoot emerges through soil surface1: Leaf development (youth stage)10 First leaf visible (pinhead-size): cotyledons horizontally unfolded11 First pair of leaves visible, not yet unfolded (pea-size)12 2 leaves (first pair of leaves) unfolded14 4 leaves (2nd pair of leaves) unfolded15 5 leaves unfolded1 . Stages continuous till ...19 9 and more leaves unfolded3: Rosette growth (crop cover)31 Beginning of crop cover: leaves cover 10% of ground32 Leaves cover 20% of ground33 Leaves cover 30% of ground34 Leaves cover 40% of ground35 Leaves cover 50% of ground36 Leaves cover 60% of ground37 Leaves cover 70% of ground38 Leaves cover 80% of ground39 Crop cover complete: leaves cover 90% of ground 4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts Beet root49 Beet root has reached harvestable size5: Inflorescence emergence (2nd year of growth)51 Beginning of elongation of main stem52 Main stem 20 cm long53 Side shoot buds visible on main stem54 Side shoots clearly visible on main stem55 First individual flower buds on side shoots visible59 First bracts visible; flower buds still closed6: Flowering60 First flowers open61 Beginning of flowering: 10% of flowers open62 20% of flowers open63 30% of flowers open64 40% of flowers open65 Full flowering: 50% of flowers open67 Flowering declining: 70% of flowers open or dry69 End of flowering: all flowers dry, fruit set visible7: Development of fruit71 Beginning of seed development: seeds visible in infructescence75 Pericarp green; fruit still mouldable; perisperm milky; colour of seed coat: beige8: Ripening81 Beginning of ripening: pericarp green-brown, seed coat light brown85 Pericarp light brown, seed coat reddish brown87 Pericarp hard, seed coat dark brown89 Fully ripe: seed coat final colour (specific to variety and species), perisperm hard9: Senescence91 Beginning of leaf discolouration93 Most leaves yellowish95 50% of leaves brownish97 Leaves dead99 Harvested product (seeds)

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