Beetroot Seeds are obtained by harvesting beetroot crops at any growth stage and from village chest loot, giving players an early supply before a dedicated farm exists. Beetroot Seeds are planted on farmland — soil tilled with a hoe beside water — and the crop advances through four growth stages, fewer than wheat's eight. A fully grown beetroot plant drops one beetroot plus extra Beetroot Seeds, so a running patch refills its own seed stock on every harvest. Bone meal speeds the crop along, but advances Beetroot Seeds only one stage per use rather than maturing the plant instantly.

Beetroot Seeds feed chickens for breeding, just like wheat, melon, and pumpkin seeds, and can be composted in a composter for a small chance of bone meal. The beetroot grown from Beetroot Seeds is the only crop source of red dye and the key ingredient in beetroot soup, which restores hunger from a single bowl. Because a beetroot harvest returns just one beetroot per plant, players who want bulk red dye or soup should plant a larger field of Beetroot Seeds than they would for wheat or carrots.