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

13 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)
There are onli two reasons your silverbeet has fallen down like that the first one would be not enough water dig some of the soil up around them and see how moist it is sometimes soil looks lovely and wet on the surface but is dry as a bone 15cm down the second reason is that they have completed there life cycle and are dying naturally. You didnt say how long they have been in for but if its more than six months then there done and need replacing.
12 Nov 10, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown silverbeet in two section of my garden, one part the vegie grow very wel lbut in the other we have found that the leaves are drying out and it crumbles when touched it has affected the rest. I water every day. What can I do? Thanks
24 Oct 10, sue (Australia - temperate climate)
planted by silverbeet four weeks ago, and the plants are still only a couple of cm high. Prepared soil with good garden soil, blood and bone and a little mulch, and have watered every day. what am I doing wrong???
24 Sep 10, Carol (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My silver beet is getting eaten,never had this problem before ,what is the best spray for it please. Carol.
12 Sep 13, Waldo (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you are near a bush area it is probably rats. I have recently had to relocate (trapped) 3 bush rats (there are other ways of dealing with them of course). They were eating my silver-beet and beetroot right back. Now starting to grow again.
15 Jun 10, Garry (Australia - temperate climate)
Andrea, you can try a moist toothpick or cotton tip to pick them up 1 by 1. You'd want to put 2-3 seeds in each spot, as they don't always germinate. You can always thin them out later.
25 Oct 10, robyn ross (Australia - temperate climate)
My italian silverbeet has grown to about 5 ft high and is seeding at the top. What do i do? Do I pull it all out? Cut it about a ft from the bottom, or take it all out and harvert the seeds. Please help me. Thank you
13 Jun 10, Andrea (Australia - tropical climate)
I've just begun growing veges for the first time. My silverbeet seeds like some others are very tiny. How can i handle them to plant them as instructed. It says plant directly into the garden its impossible to pick up a seed. So i just took a pinch and put that in the distances. I would rather not use the whole packet if i don't have to but it seems I've not much choice but to sew them all at once. Very difficult.
29 Aug 10, jaime (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
try adding them to a handfull of fine sand, then sprinkle the sand where you want the seeds to grow. this sometimes works
01 Apr 10, nicolau8 (Australia - temperate climate)
i am growing silverbeet and have enough to feed a family of 4.its been sometime now with this problem the leaves in the center strat to get dark green and curl around followed buy the stem going red,the outer leaves are fine i pick the four and thats it .within 2wks the plant has remained small and dies.
Showing 121 - 130 of 187 comments

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