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Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P	P						P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Silverbeet in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

P = Sow direct in garden where they are to grow.

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 7-12 weeks.
• 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.
• Space plants: 15-30cm

Edible dark green glossy leaves with wide white or cream stalks produced over a long period. Both leaves and stalks are eaten. This is a cut and come again plant, providing leaves for some months before going to flower. Can re-sprout from around the base if cut off when it starts to flower.

Reasonably frost and heat tolerant. Grows well in most soils. For prolific growth apply compost, or well-rotted manure. Resistant to most plant diseases.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Silverbeet

Wash thoroughly and inspect the back of the leaves for insects.
Chop and put in a saucepan with very little water ( or just what is on the leaves)
Cover and cook over a low to medium heat until the leaves collapse.
A small amount of nutmeg enhances the flavour.

Your comments and tips

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.

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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.

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13 Jun 10 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Andrea, you could try handling like beetroot seeds. i.e. soak some overnight. They will swell a bit and be easier to separate.

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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.

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25 Mar 10 Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

lucy, you could just cut some off, as close to the roots as possible. Scissors would probably work.

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24 Mar 10 lucy (Australia - temperate climate)

I am in year 7. We have to create an agriculture garden, about 1x1 metres. I planted silverbeet and it has shot straight up. I accidentally planted too many and now my garden is chock-a-block full of it. How do i get rid of some without breaking the roots?

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15 Feb 10 Sophie (Australia - temperate climate)

Why do silverbeet stems sometimes turn grey after being cooked?

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07 Feb 10 Dee (Australia - temperate climate)

Many thanks for the tip Gary!

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01 Feb 10 gary (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Raelene and Dee, With silverbeet you can harvest and use the outer leaves leaving the central ones to continue growing. We tend to harvest them when they're around 20-30cm long including the stem. The older outer leaves can get a bit tough.

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30 Jan 10 Dee (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Raelene. I'm new to growing silverbeet too. I have a great crop going at the moment and just cut the outer leaves off as I need them. I've found I need to water them every day or they get droopy, and have had to keep a close eye on them as the grubs love them. Ive been told that you can cut the whole plant at once - maybe someone else can give some idea on that one?

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