Your comments and tips

02 Jun 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Judy - the brown spots might be caused by broad mite, which came into my garden this summer (Sydney) with all the heat and humidity. Apparently they're a QLD mite and don't seem to have predators yet down here, but I've had some success again broad mite using Eco-oil which doesn't hurt the beneficial insects. Tricia, the problem with garlic is it also kills off lacewings which are an important predator of aphids, mites, thrips, etc. Spraying with garlic works in the short term, but not good for the long term battle against pests because it reduces the number of helpful predators.

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31 Mar 15, rodney (Australia - tropical climate)

I have silve rbeat growing good but then something is eating them leaving big holes in the leaves, I can not see anything on them . what can I spray them with

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29 May 09, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)

Meg, try this spray, it seems to work for me! place 4 garlic cloves crushed 1 lemon squeezed and cut in a 2 litre jug, pour over hot water, allow to go cold strain. Spray your leaves lighly once a fortnight, not much seems to like the spray and it doesn't affect the taste.

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23 Apr 09, Jackie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Regarding cooking silverbeet in milk. Here is my favourite way to cook it: Chop the washed leaves & stems finely. Saute in melted butter till leaves are softened, add some milk, salt & pepper. Gently cook with the lid off until stalks are thoroughly cooked, leaves are mushy and liquid has evaporated. Serve on hot toast. This takes quite some time but the result is yummy! It is even nicer with a good knob of cream cheese melted into it just before serving.

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17 Apr 09, Judy (Australia - temperate climate)

I've grown silverbeet quite a lot in the past, but in my new location on the Central Coast of NSW, I'm finding that it has a disease which looks like little brown dots/spots all over the leaf. Anyone know what this is please - could it be a fungus type problem? Thanks, help would be appreciated. I'm an organic grower, so any remedies need to be non-toxic. Thanks. Judy

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09 Apr 09, Meg (Australia - temperate climate)

I have small green caterpillars destroying my silverbeet and also having a go at the beetroot leaves. I can't seem to get on top of them even though I've sprayed a couple of times. Does anyone have any suggestions? Especially anything organic or natural, since I'm partly growing veges to minimise the pesticides on our food.

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25 Mar 09, Ken, Blue Mountains, NSW. (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

To Emily, 14 Oct 08, it will be birds picking at the lovely green leaves. It looks a bit unsightly but they will probably get over it and leave the plants alone. If it persists, you could try making a cover out of some chicken netting and covering your plants. Get a piece of chicken netting about 2 metres long, double it over, lengthways and tie the edges, then 'balloon' it out so that it sits over the plants, and so protecting the plants from the birds.

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25 Mar 09, Ken (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

To Ron, (3 Aug 08), your Silver beet sounds just like a problem I had with mine. I contacted Peter Cundall and his advice was to put BORON in the ground. Its a trace element and essential for the good health of all Beet plants. I bought a tub of "Borax" at Coles, its 17% Boron, lightly sprinkled it about where I was going to plant my Silver Beet and Beetroot, and bingo, best crops I've had for years. Go to www.agric.nsw.gov.au and put in "Boron Deficiency" and you will get a very interesting article.

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17 Mar 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Lesley, I like to steam silverbeet then sprinkle a couple of drops of soy sauce and sesame oil over it before serving, Alternatively steam then sprinkle with a little nutmeg. I've seen recipes with milk, but never used milk with silverbeet.

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12 Mar 09, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

For the past couple of years I have been unable to grow silverbeet successfully in any part of my garden. It appears to be flourishing, and then develops silvery coloured blotches on the leaves. I have been using sheep manure, plus blood, bone and potash, plus occasional doses of "Thrive" liquid fertiliser.

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