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
T T T           T T T T
P P P           P P P P

(Best months for growing Silverbeet in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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

16 Jun 15, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
Please help! How can I get crisp white stems and dark green leaves on my Fordhook Giant like the stuff I see in the supermarket? My plants never get past mid-green.
24 Oct 15, Teesha (Australia - temperate climate)
Lots of sun!
08 Apr 15, Carol watts (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have always cut the leaves just above the ground, very successful for years. My community garden gurus tell us to break them off. I feel this bruises and tears the remaining stalk and encourages rot. Who is right please?
22 Nov 14, Bec (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted my silverbeet seedlings a couple of months ago, they are starting to flower, if I cut off flowers, will they keep going
26 Jan 15, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I cut off the stalk at just above ground level and they start again, I do wait to collect the seeds from most plants first, then chop and drop the stalk and rest leaves as mulch around the plant, I am also in a cool growing area and it works well, but I also always leave some plants go to seed and that way never have to bother to start new seedlings!! Happy gardening Jen .
10 Nov 14, Maureen (Australia - temperate climate)
My silver beet plants developed many yellow outer leaves. When I pulled the plants up, there were mole crickets clinging to the roots. I believe mole crickets usually eat grass roots. Could the damage to the silver beet be from the mole crickets. How do I get rid of them?
23 Sep 14, Adrienne Streppel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My silverbeet leaves are harbouring beet webworm. How can I save my plants or do I just have to sacrifice the leaves that are attacked.
10 Sep 14, Marion C (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ihave grown silver beet and Swiss chard quite successfully before, but my last crop seemed to get a lot of rusty coloured spots on them , any ideas why?
08 Mar 15, Meg (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine had rustspot too and i treated it with lime sulpher, did the trick.Take off any damaged leaves first then spray.
25 Aug 14, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
I love to grow silver beet but earwigs attack so badly despite surface spray around the area or rolled up newspaper. I tried growing in flower pots but the result has been very small growth. What next do you suggest , thank you,
Showing 91 - 100 of 222 comments

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