- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 48 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Type: Beet (Learn more)
Native: Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region
Hardiness: Frost-tolerant biennial grown as an annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: Leaf tops are 18" tall
Variety Info: Smooth, 1 ½"–2 ½;" diameter with slightly flattened roots. Leaf tops are dark green on red stems. 'Early Wonder', introduced in 1911, is an excellent beet for both greens and roots, ready for harvest in as little as 40 days. Especially good in early spring due to its ability to grow in cool soils.
Attributes: Cold Tolerant, Frost Tolerant
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 45°F, ideally 60°–85°F, for early summer crop. 6 to 8 weeks before your average first fall frost date for late summer/fall crop. Mild Climates: Sow fall through winter.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended. Root disturbance delays maturity.
Days to Emerge: 5 – 21 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: 1 seed every 4"
Row Spacing: 12"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 4"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: For early spring sowings, harvest beets before summer heat. For late summer sowings, harvest before first heavy freeze. For winter sowings in mild climates, harvest in early spring. Harvest when roots are anywhere from 1"â€"3" in diameter. The smaller they are, the more tender. Greens are most tender when small, so start harvesting when they are 2" tall. You can take as much as one third of a beet plant's outer leaves without harming the root crop.
- Helen J.AZ, United StatesVerified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 stars12/27/25Great for greens
I have been growing this variety for beet greens for over 10 years and have nothing but excellent things to say. I grow these as cut-and-come again, picking the larger (2-3") leaves (with their stems) as they are ready. I direct sow every 2-3" in containers or raised beds. Once I start picking, I fertilize every couples of weeks with N-rich fish fertilizer and they produce for months on end. They grow best in my Zone 9b winter garden, but they do OK through hot summer in the shade. Due to the way I grow and harvest, they are not suitable for getting actual beets at the end. 10/10 for over 10 years!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised BedBIBotanical Interests12/30/25Hey Helen,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed and amazing feedback about our Early Wonder Beet Seeds! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that you've been successfully growing them for over 10 years - what an incredible testament to this variety! Your cut-and-come-again method sounds absolutely perfect, and we love how you've mastered the technique of harvesting those 2-3" leaves with stems for continuous production. The fact that they keep producing for months on end with your fertilizing routine is just fantastic! It's also great to know they work well in both your Zone 9b winter garden and even handle the summer heat in shade. Thank you for your continued trust in us for over a decade and for sharing such valuable growing tips with the community. Keep on growing 🌻️
- SonjaRated 5 out of 5 stars4/11/255 Stars
These are FANTASTIC!! They didnt mind being started in trays and transplanted into the field, ready to harvest 7 weeks later. Most were 2-2.5" in size, with some being 3"!
The beets taste great, and the greens are so sweet!!
- SonjaVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4/11/255 Stars
These are FANTASTIC!! They didnt mind being started in trays and transplanted into the field, ready to harvest 7 weeks later. Most were 2-2.5" in size, with some being 3"!
The beets taste great, and the greens are so sweet!!
- Cynthia B.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars11/7/245 Stars
Great customer service! Seeds were just as expected and have produced beautiful vegtables!
Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate - Katherine R.Rated 1 out of 5 stars10/3/241 Star
Very disappointed in these seeds. I bought these this year in hopes of growing beautiful sweet beets but these turned out to be insanely spicy and possibly mixed with radish seeds. These are not at all what I was expecting.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests10/8/24Hey Katherine,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️