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 S S S            
      T T T T          
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Silverbeet in Australia - tropical 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 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 15 - 30 cm 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

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08 Apr 11, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I have silverbeet plants over 18 months old that are still producing. We grow everything in dappled sunlight (under trees) and pick all our leaves very young. This way, we have salad leaves constantly and very few pests find them - our lettuce also takes many months before it goes to seed.
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06 Apr 11, Rosie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have ground silverbeet in different area of my garden, some of them get the morning sun and a few of them get the hot afternoon sun. However most of the plants on either side have died and out of 8 seedlings I purchased from the nusery, just 2 are left. I water them everyday and the soil is basic clay with compost. Please tell me what I am doing wrong.
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22 Feb 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Having trouble with silverbeet. The leaves have lost colour and have gone almost white. Is this a lack of fertiliser? or some other reason.
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21 Jan 11, Jenboon (Australia - temperate climate)
White stemmed silverbeet... close to the end or going to seed, the stems turn dark pink or red in strips along the edge or full stem? Are the stems still edible or should they be composted?
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15 Jan 11, chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Silverbeet is extremely easy to grow, and is a great way for young children to experience the joy of growing and harvesting your own food. 10 out of 10!
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16 Jan 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Absolutely! And it also taste's great!
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10 Jan 11, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
Most of you are probably aware of wheatgrass & barleygrass,and their powderised forms which are claimed to be extemely nutritious with the bonus of special health benefits. In a similar fashion, can we safely eat the seeds from plants which have gone to seed and often produce an abundance of seed-heads ?
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31 Dec 10, Paul Stothard (Australia - temperate climate)
My mother has some silver beet in the garden which she has been harvesting on a cut and come again basis. Most of the plants have recently started seeding. She would like to know whether the leaves can still be harvested and eaten
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01 Jan 11, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes you can continue to harvest and eat the leaves. Now that it's seeding though once you've harvested this last lot of leaves off you might as well pull out the plant as it won't be producing leaves now.
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30 Jan 11, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
It says on the page above, that if you cut off the plant at the base once it goes to flower, it will regrow, so maybe you don't need to pull the whole plant out?
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Showing 111 - 120 of 187 comments
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As far as Aphids go I have a small thistle (don't know the name of it) with yellow flowers which if left to seed have a white fluffy seed nest. This plant attracts the Aphids which in turn leave my veggies alone. Every couple of days I will rub my hands along the stems and squash the little critters. I let this plant go to seed and the seeds come up where ever they want too. Also I have a home made Garlick spray which helps to deter quite a few bugs (however it will also deter bees). Try allowing some weeds grow around the plants, I have found that the pests get a little confused and go away. Keep control of the weeds and only have a thin layer. Do a little companion planting also helps. Other that this, I let the birds and lizards take care of the garden. Good luck.

- Max Crichton

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