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 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

11 Dec 12, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi vicki have you found what the black spots area and if ones can treat ? Cheers David.
30 Oct 09, Tim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I have some coloured silverbeet in punnet trays that I want to plant out - it is quite leggy, maybe 2.5 cm or so to first leaves. Anyone know if the stems can be buried up to the first leaves like broccoli etc or should I leave the stems above the ground as they are?
10 Sep 09, floody (Australia - tropical climate)
i just had the best crop of beet ever. plenty of chook poo in the soil and blood and bone mixed up in styro vege boxes with water every arvo .
16 Aug 09, Ray (Australia - tropical climate)
I have a lovely crop of silverbeet growing but when we cook/steam it, it goes black and looks unedible. Never have this problem with bought silverbeet. Tried different cooking times but still goes black
29 Aug 10, jaime (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
we boil ours, but if you add bicarb soda to the water, they'll keep their colour. steaming is probably the worst thing to do with leafy vegies. cause it creates a humid environment, they just wilt and go horrible. thats why i have to grow mine in winter.hope that helps!1
04 Aug 09, Sylvia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Silverbeet/chard Mediterranean style: chop & steam the stalks gently until tender, then add the roughly chopped or torn leaves. Cover the pot, turn off the heat, then leave a couple of minutes until the leaves are wilted. Drain then toss through a splash of good olive oil, pinch of salt, black pepper, then a squeeze of lemon or lime. Serve warm or cold. Magnifico!! Also great the next day fried gently with eggs mixed in.
03 Jul 09, Marie (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
I am growing silverbeet in pots sitting inside a larger pot with soil in the bottom. It is growing well but some of the leaves get a grey colourd blotch on them. I only ever water from below. Any suggestions? Over the last couple of weeks our temperature has been between 20 and 27°. I never had any problems when I lived in Australia. Maybe I am being too ambitious?
21 Jun 09, Colin (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Cooking silverbeet, wash thinly shred whole leaf, stem and all, wash and cook/steam until ready. No need for extra water if just washed. Drain well and chop in colander with saucer or blade, add salt and pepper to taste , good knob of butter and splash of brown vinegar. Delicious. I am a cook by trade and this is my preferred way, never used nutmeg or milk.Enjoy
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.
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
Showing 171 - 180 of 222 comments

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