I plant beets in November, and harvest through spring and summer. Just picked the last from last year in September. They were fine.

Very interesting, that surprises me thanks!

I imagine in your region soil gets too cold for much soil bug activity. In my climate damp but not frozen soil encourages root crop munching invertebrates, like slugs. Roots left to overwinter are often full of holes and tunnels by spring. You’ll just have to experiment to see what happens in your climate.

My region is in no way too cold for soilbug activity. At least soil bugs that eat root crops. Never seen them. I have grubs and cutworms, and some pill bugs, but they don't chew on root crops. My soil is not that damp however, except to the extent I try to make it so.

I am not going to overwinter them, they were planted this summer, I just did not pick them yet.

Dan, I was talking to Donald in z6 where I was thinking the ground would perhaps freeze and stop bug activity. My soil never freezes and remains damp by virtue of copious rain. The ground dwelling slugs and bugs stay active all winter and will tunnel into any potatoes, carrots, etc left in the ground.

When I read the title of the question my first thought was - Those things are pricey! Wash them off and put in some new batteries.

Beats parsnips and turnips!

I am good at math and terrible at speling :) Sorry!