VegetableBeet
Green Top Bunching Beet
Green Top Bunching Beet is an open-pollinated beet that grows across hardiness zones 2 through 10, making it adaptable to nearly every North American garden. What sets this variety apart is its generous leafy tops, which reach 15 inches and deliver tender greens as tasty as the roots themselves. The flattened globe-shaped roots produce red beets ready to harvest in just 30 to 39 days, while the vibrant green foliage holds its color beautifully and proves valuable for both home cooks and market growers. In full sun with minimal spacing requirements, this dual-purpose cultivar delivers two crops in one: crisp greens for salads and mild beet roots for roasting or pickling.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
Spacing
3
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The real distinction of Green Top Bunching Beet lies in its exceptional 15-inch tops that perform as primary greens rather than an afterthought. The flattened globe roots are red and mild, excellent roasted or pickled, but it's the tender leafy tops that justify this variety's name and its popularity in market gardens. From sowing to first harvest takes just 30 to 39 days, making it one of the quickest beets available. The greens retain their vivid color through cooking and storage, a trait that market growers specifically value.
Common Uses
Green Top Bunching Beet delivers dual utility in the kitchen. The tender young greens can be harvested continuously for salads, sautés, and cooked preparations, offering the same nutritious appeal as chard or spinach. The flattened globe roots are excellent roasted whole when young and tender, or sliced thin for pickling. Both roots and greens work particularly well in market garden operations, where the abundant leafy tops command their own price while the roots add secondary value.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden 1 to 2 weeks before the last spring frost, or in late summer for a fall crop. Press seeds into moist soil at a depth of 1/4 inch and keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination, which occurs in 7 to 10 days.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer green leaves once plants establish 4 to 6 true leaves, pinching them from the base without damaging the growing center. This encourages bushier growth and extends the harvest window. For roots, harvest when they reach 1 to 2 inches in diameter, typically 30 to 39 days after sowing, by gently loosening soil and pulling the entire plant. Young roots are sweetest and most tender; leaving roots to grow larger will toughen their texture and concentrate earthy flavors. The combination of greens and roots can be harvested simultaneously, or prioritize leaf production by allowing roots to develop more slowly.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Beta vulgaris
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Beta
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)