Early Wonder Tall Top Beet
Early Wonder Tall Top Beet is a heirloom root vegetable variety (Beta vulgaris). Harvest begins around day 48-55; seed germinates in 7-14 days. Set plants 3-4 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.5, zones 2-10, full sun to partial shade (4-8 hours). Plants reach 12-18 inches. It will crop in a container.

Sowing
Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Plant seeds ½ inch deep, thin seedlings to proper spacing. Fall plantings 10-12 weeks before hard frost.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-8 hours)
- Water
- 1 inch per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Well-drained, fertile soil with good organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 3-4 inches
- Height
- 12-18 inches
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep red roots with bright green tops tinged red
- Size
- 2-3 inches diameter
- Shape
- Flattened globe, slightly top-shaped
- Flavour
- Sweet, earthy roots with tender, mild-flavored greens
In the kitchen
Roots for roasting, boiling, pickling. Greens excellent for salads and sautéing. Both can be harvested young.
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Leaf miners, aphids, flea beetles
- Diseases
- Cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew, damping off
- Resistance
- Good tolerance to leaf spot diseases
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | June – July | July – September |
| 2 | — | — | May – July | July – September |
| 3 | — | — | May – June | June – October |
| 4 | — | — | April – June | June – October |
| 5 | — | — | April – May | June – November |
| 6 | — | — | April – May | May – November |
| 7 | — | — | March – May | May – November |
| 8 | — | — | March – April | April – December |
| 9 | — | — | February – March | March – December |
| 10 | — | — | January – March | March – December |
| 11 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 12 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
| 13 | — | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 1.69
- Fat (g)
- 0.302
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 8.79
- Fibre (g)
- 3.12
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 4.6
- Folate (µg)
- 103
- Calcium (mg)
- 13.8
- Iron (mg)
- 0.428
- Magnesium (mg)
- 21
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 33.6
- Potassium (mg)
- 342
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.31
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Early Wonder Tall Top Beet?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other root vegetables with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Early Wonder Tall Top Beet suits these too.
- KN-Bravo 49 days
- Mokum Carrot 50 days
- Miyashige 50 days
- Paris Market Carrot 50 days
- Mini Mak 50 days
- Red Ace Beet 50 days