How to grow Silverbeet in Australia
Silverbeet (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla), also called Swiss chard, is one of the easiest and most productive leafy greens you can grow. Pick a few outer leaves at a time and a single plant keeps producing for up to a year. It is grown for its large, glossy leaves and thick white or coloured stems.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Silverbeet in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | All year | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | All year | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | All year | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to October | Sow year-round but peak autumn to winter (Mar to Jun). Add early spring (Sep to Oct). Tolerates light frost. |
| Adelaide & SA | All year | Silverbeet tolerates some heat; keep harvest window flexible year-round but strongest growth Apr to Oct. |
| Perth & WA | All year | Silverbeet tolerates some heat; keep harvest window flexible year-round but strongest growth Apr to Oct. |
| Tasmania | September to February | Sow Sep to Feb. Plants stand through winter for picking. One of the most reliable crops in Tasmania. |
| Canberra & ACT | August to February | Sow Aug to Feb. Established plants stand through winter; growth pauses in heavy frost and resumes in spring. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Dry season main window May to Sep. Year-round possible with shade cloth in warmest months. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to September | Dry season main window May to Sep. Year-round possible with shade cloth in warmest months. |
Not to be confused with: Spinach, a different, smaller and faster crop that bolts quickly in warm weather. Silverbeet is often sold or called spinach in Australia, and it is a close relative of beetroot.
Where to plant
Silverbeet grows in full sun or part shade in rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost and some manure. It likes a neutral to slightly alkaline soil, so add lime or dolomite to acid soils. In hot inland summers, a bit of afternoon shade keeps the leaves tender.
It tolerates heat and frost better than most leafy greens, which is why it grows for so much of the year.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: sow at any time of year. Growth is strongest from autumn to spring.
- Melbourne: sow from March to October, with the best crops from autumn sowings.
- Hobart: sow from September to February. Plants stand through winter for picking.
- Canberra: sow from August to February. Established plants stand through winter, pause in heavy frost and grow again in spring.
- North Queensland and Darwin: sow in the dry season, from May to September. Year-round growing is possible with shade cloth over the hottest months.
Choosing a variety
- Fordhook Giant is the classic, with big green leaves and broad white stems. It is reliable and slow to bolt.
- Rainbow types, sold as Five Colour Mix or Bright Lights, have red, yellow, pink and orange stems and a slightly milder flavour.
- Perpetual spinach (leaf beet) has narrow stems and smaller, spinach-like leaves and is very long cropping.
How to plant
- Soak the seed overnight to help it germinate. Each knobbly seed is a cluster that can produce several seedlings.
- Sow about 1 to 1.5 cm deep, directly in the bed or in punnets for transplanting.
- Thin each cluster to the strongest seedling, leaving plants about 25 to 30 cm apart in rows about 50 cm apart.
- Water in and mulch once the seedlings are up.
Watering and feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist. Regular water gives tender leaves and stems, and dry soil is a common trigger for bolting. Mulch helps hold moisture in summer.
Silverbeet is a leafy crop and responds to nitrogen. Dig in compost and manure before planting, then give a liquid feed or a side dressing of a nitrogen-rich fertiliser every few weeks while you are picking heavily.
Pruning and care through the year
- Pinch out any flower stems as soon as they appear to delay bolting.
- Remove old, yellowing or damaged outer leaves to keep the plant clean and the air moving.
- Replace plants once they bolt for good, usually after about a year.
Harvesting
Start picking when the outer leaves are big enough to use. Snap or cut them off at the base, ideally in the morning, and leave the inner leaves to keep growing. You can take several leaves at once without harming the plant.
Leaves keep a few days in the fridge in a bag. Cook them soon after picking for the best flavour.
Growing in pots
Silverbeet grows well in a pot at least 25 to 30 cm wide and deep. Use a rich potting mix, feed regularly and keep it moist. Rainbow types look good in pots on a balcony.
Using it
Use silverbeet as you would cooked spinach: in pies such as spanakopita, quiches, soups, stir-fries, curries and pasta. Strip the leaves from thick stems, chop the stems and cook them a few minutes longer. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads.
Like spinach, silverbeet contains oxalates. Cooking reduces them, which matters for people prone to kidney stones.
Companion planting
Silverbeet is a long-standing crop that grows happily alongside most vegetables.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Silverbeet has few serious problems. Snails and slugs on young plants are the most common.
Pests to watch for
- Snails Ragged holes in young leaves and slime trails after rain. Beer traps help.
- Slugs Seedlings eaten off and holes in the lower leaves.
- Leaf miner Pale, winding tunnels or brown blotches inside the leaves. Pick off affected leaves.
- Aphids Clusters of small insects under the leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Cercospora leaf spot Small round spots with a pale centre and reddish-brown edge, worst in warm, humid weather. Remove affected leaves and avoid wetting the foliage.
Common questions
Is silverbeet the same as spinach?
No, although it is often called spinach in Australia. Silverbeet is a type of beet grown for its leaves, with thick stems, and it crops for months. True spinach is smaller and softer, and it bolts quickly in warm weather.
When can I plant silverbeet?
In most of the temperate and subtropical regions, almost any time of year. In the tropics, sow in the dry season from May to September. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
How do I stop silverbeet bolting?
Keep it well watered and pinch out flower stems as soon as they appear. Dry soil, heat and age all trigger bolting. Once a plant bolts for good, pull it out and sow again.
How do I pick silverbeet so it keeps growing?
Take the outer leaves, snapping or cutting them off at the base, and leave the central leaves to grow. Picking regularly keeps the plant producing for many months.
Why does my silverbeet have spots on the leaves?
Round spots with a pale centre and reddish edge are usually Cercospora leaf spot, a fungal disease of warm, humid weather. Remove affected leaves, space plants for air, and water the soil, not the leaves.
Can you eat silverbeet stems?
Yes. Chop the stems and cook them a little longer than the leaves, or cook them separately like celery. Coloured stems keep much of their colour when lightly cooked.
Why do my silverbeet seeds come up in clumps?
Each seed is actually a cluster of several seeds, so two or three seedlings often come up together. Thin them to the strongest one.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Silverbeet; Sustainable Gardening Australia: Grow silverbeet, Swiss chard.