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Growing Silverbeet, also Swiss Chard or Mangold

(Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

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

(Best months for planting Silverbeet in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • 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: Beans, brassica sp. (cabbage, cauliflower, etc), tomato, allium sp. (onion, garlic, chives), lavender, parsnip
  • Avoid growing with: Corn, melon, cucurbit (cucumbers, squash, melons, gourds), most herbs, potato.
  • Multi-coloured variety
  • Silverbeet

Your comments and tips

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30 May 13, Jeremy (Australia - temperate climate)
Most commonly you will find it to be slaters and/or snails. I've even found a few cabbage moth catepillars on the underside of the leaves from time to time. A good pyrethum (natural) spray should help take care of it.
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07 Apr 13, Salli Su (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It might be possums eating your silverbeet
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17 Apr 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Could well be.. but I would also include good old rats and even bandicoots (even in town).
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04 Dec 12, JANE HOWWARD (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is Silverbeet the same as collard greens?
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11 Sep 12, Toni Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had a plant in a pot on the patio in the morning sun and I ate from it for over 4 years very good value
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07 Mar 12, George K. (Australia - temperate climate)
Greeks use silverbeet and endives much the same way, as a salad. Cook as above,strain,cool, then dress with salt,olive oil and lemon juice....even some chopped garlic if you like....yummy salad...
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07 Nov 11, Nathanael (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Why can you not grow silver beet next to corn? is it just because of the shade of the corn?
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29 Aug 11, Helen Elam (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
the thick white stem of Swiss chard is cooked separately: cut up in sticks of 6 cm long by 1 cm diameter. cooked gently in butter. I have eaten this as a n accompaniment to girolles and riz de veau - the leaves were cooked and pureed to make a wonderful sauce.
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09 Aug 11, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
I have several silverbeet in the garden that are doing fantastic, and just keep on growing more and more leaves every time we harvest some. Planted in March, and at this stage show NO signs of stopping growing! Late this month, we need to pull everything out of the garden bed to top it up (its a no-soil, no dig garden) and prepare it for the warmer season crop - will it hurt if I transplant a few of these mature silverbeet plants into another big pot so I can keep harvesting the leaves???
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08 Apr 11, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I have silverbeet plants over 18 months old that are still producing. We grow everything in dappled sunlight (under trees) and pick all our leaves very young. This way, we have salad leaves constantly and very few pests find them - our lettuce also takes many months before it goes to seed.
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Post a question, comment or tip about Silverbeet

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.

- Garry


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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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