Silverbeet – marching into autumn planting.

Silverbeet is simple to grow and yet difficult to buy in good condition at the supermarket. As we March into autumn this is a great time to plant it as it is one vegetable that is able to be harvested through the later autumn, winter and spring. Silverbeet is really easy to grow in a GreenSmart pot. Chard, Spinach Beet, Sea kale Beet and Swiss Chard are other names used for silverbeet.

The most common type  has a thick white stem, while the leaves are large, crinkly and dark green in colour. However there are also cultivars that have brilliant ruby-red stems and veins, and others with golden stems and veins.

 

 

Growing Conditions

The fastest way to be eating your own silverbeet is to plant seedlings now. In this pot I have got about ten plants. They will be ready to eat in about two months. Planting in mid spring will give you a mid summer harvesting.

These plants like full sun or partial shade.

If you want to grow from seeds then check out King Seeds.

Soak the seeds for a few hours before sowing them 2-3 cm deep. They will be ready to pick in about three months.

They are frost tender but in many parts of NZ the frost will not be harsh enough to kill the plants.

Fertiliser

The more organic matter in the pot, the better the flavour. Use a good supplement like blood and bone or poultry manure or liquid feeds.

Harvesting

This is another veg that you can cut and it grows again. Just cut off the stalk above the base of the plant.Discard any older leaves as they are more bitter.

In the Kitchen

Prepare the stalks separately to the leaves. The leaves are highly perishable so bypass fridge storage. Click here for a tasty way to use your harvest.