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 S S S S S S S S
T T T T T T T T T T T T
P P P P P     P P P P P

(Best months for growing Silverbeet in Australia - sub-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

14 Mar 21, elaine (Australia - temperate climate)
can i use chicken poo tea for my silverbeet thxs
15 Mar 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes - google
04 Jan 21, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)
Since I planted the silver beet next to a rose tree that was doing really well.....the silverbeet are doing well but the roses flowers have shrunk considerably and some of the leaves are yellow. Is it because the silverbeet is taking up a lot of the nutrition in the soil and should I also water more now to allow for all of the plants to get enough hydration? We live in Melbourne and it is summer. thanks
05 Jan 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just my view but I don't mix plantings of things together. As far as I'm concerned a rose garden is a rose garden. A vegie garden is for vegies. They require slightly different fertiliser. If mixing plantings then more fertilisering and watering is required especially in hot summer.
06 Jan 21, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks good advice. I think i may try to transplant the silver beet somewhere else and see how it goes.Or i will leave them fertilise them more and water them more right now being summer.
03 Jan 21, Max Crichton (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
29 Jul 20, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have silver-beet,kale,and white spinach growing ,but there are all these tiny white dot like insects on the leaves.I have been trying to identify them with pics on the the net,but get a little confused.Could they be thrip or aphids? I did have them all over my pak choy and sadly I pulled them all out and gave to the goats.I also made a soap and water spray,which seemed to help.But really I don't want them at all. Any ideas or companion planting ideas would help thanks.
17 Oct 20, S (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like green caterpillar eggs
13 Feb 20, Pauline Chiarelli (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I replant spinach in the same place as my last crop?
18 May 20, Scott (Australia - temperate climate)
yes, just add a little compost to the area before planting.
Showing 21 - 30 of 187 comments

Re my advice to shade the plants. I reply to comments here for Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and South Africa. Temps probably vary from 0 to 40+C degrees. Good luck with the organic gardening. I just left a volunteer garden place for health reasons and they were going/trying to go organic. Their crops this year so far, are very under nourished. I generally don't spray, use some compost, pigeon poo, worm juice and a bit of chem fertiliser if I need it. When transplanting - plant out when 4-8 leaf stage.

- Mike

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