Growing Silverbeet, also Swiss Chard or Mangold

Beta vulgaris var. cicla : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S                    
      T                
    P P                

(Best months for growing Silverbeet in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 7-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, brassica sp. (cabbage, cauliflower, etc), tomato, allium sp. (onion, garlic, chives), lavender, parsnip
  • Avoid growing close to: Corn, melon, cucurbit (cucumbers, squash, melons, gourds), most herbs, potato.

Your comments and tips

05 Apr 13, Ferran (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
potatoes change/add chemicals to the soil and attract root disease as this plant is in the same family as beetroot it is advisable to keep it away from potatoes. this only goes soil deep in bed next to the potatoes would be fine but not so close in the soil that the roots would have a chance to cross.
04 Mar 13, Maxwell (Australia - temperate climate)
Does sulphate of iron help to darken the colour of the leaves of silver beet, as well as give it a nutritional value.
25 Feb 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Really good advice for daughter's school project!!!! :)
25 Dec 12, dee (Australia - temperate climate)
What eats silver beet at night? Husband growing it and finding at night it gets munched? We live in town so no rabbits.
30 May 13, Jeremy (Australia - temperate climate)
Most commonly you will find it to be slaters and/or snails. I've even found a few cabbage moth catepillars on the underside of the leaves from time to time. A good pyrethum (natural) spray should help take care of it.
07 Apr 13, Salli Su (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It might be possums eating your silverbeet
17 Apr 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Could well be.. but I would also include good old rats and even bandicoots (even in town).
11 Sep 12, Toni Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had a plant in a pot on the patio in the morning sun and I ate from it for over 4 years very good value
07 Mar 12, George K. (Australia - temperate climate)
Greeks use silverbeet and endives much the same way, as a salad. Cook as above,strain,cool, then dress with salt,olive oil and lemon juice....even some chopped garlic if you like....yummy salad...
09 Aug 11, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
I have several silverbeet in the garden that are doing fantastic, and just keep on growing more and more leaves every time we harvest some. Planted in March, and at this stage show NO signs of stopping growing! Late this month, we need to pull everything out of the garden bed to top it up (its a no-soil, no dig garden) and prepare it for the warmer season crop - will it hurt if I transplant a few of these mature silverbeet plants into another big pot so I can keep harvesting the leaves???
Showing 101 - 110 of 187 comments

Will silverbeet grow in the tropics (Darwin)? If so, what time of year? Thank you.

- Barbara Conje

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