If you haven't got lovely winter sun traps, don't despair because there are a range of vegetables that will happily grow on as little as
3 to 4 hours of direct sun per day
– things like Silverbeet, Beetroot, English Spinach and most varieties of lettuce, so there's no reason for you to go hungry for vegetables this …
How many hours of sun does silverbeet need?
If you haven't got lovely winter sun traps, don't despair because there are a range of vegetables that will happily grow on as little as
3 to 4 hours of direct sun per day
– things like Silverbeet, Beetroot, English Spinach and most varieties of lettuce, so there's no reason for you to go hungry for vegetables this …
Does silverbeet like full sun?
Silverbeet does best in full or partial sun
, but can also cope with some pretty bleak spaces. Find the best location possible and sow the seeds or plant seedlings 20 to 40 centimetres apart. … Start harvesting the leaves at around six weeks, or once they're about 30 centimetres long.
What conditions do silverbeet grow in?
Silverbeet prefers a
slightly alkaline soil with at least a pH of 6 or above
, and like all vegetables, needs well-drained, well composted soil that has the addition of animal manures.
What can you not plant with silverbeet?
| Plant Good Companion Bad Companion | Spinach Strawberries, beetroot, onion – | Silverbeet Lavender, marigolds – | Strawberries Bush beans, borage, lettuce, spinach, silverbeet, onion (not garlic) Cabbage family, tomatoes, garlic | Swede Onions, peas – |
|---|
How long do Silverbeet plants last?
One of the most popular plants we sell (and grow) would have to be Silverbeet. It produces pretty much year round (if given ideal conditions), and each plant provides you with many, many leaves over its life. Plants will often
live for two years
, so they are certainly good value!
What can I plant next to Silverbeet?
Silverbeet has broad and colourful stems that, when picked young, are as succulent as the leaves themselves. Companions
Bush beans, onions, lettuce, cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprout, sage, mint, rosemary, garlic, thyme
. Quantity 1 plant per person as a successive sowing.
How often should you water Silverbeet?
The soil surface needs to be kept moist after sowing to germinate the seed, prevent soil crusting, assist seedling emergence and speed early leaf growth. For active growth in summer, silver beet benefits from a watering
every two to three days
. It may be irrigated when the available soil water has been depleted by 50%.
When should I plant Silverbeet?
Although silverbeet grows all year, the best time to sow seeds to start new plants in cool zones is during
spring and summer
. 2. In warm zones, seeds can be planted year round. Silverbeet grows best in full sun (or with light afternoon shade in hotter climates) in fertile soil that holds moisture.
Is Silverbeet a spinach?
Silverbeet is
a close relative of spinach and beetroot
, and is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean. Silverbeet is best cooked.
Can Silverbeet be grown in pots?
How to grow silverbeet in a pot. Choose a decent sized pot; a
300mm pot will
be a good start. Fill with a good premium potting mix like Yates potting mix with Dynamic lifter organic plant food. … Sow direct into the soil planting them in clumps.
Can you eat Silverbeet with brown spots?
You may see orange rust spots or Cercospora leaf spots, which are light grey with brown margins and eventually fall out, causing ‘shot holes'. This is not usually a serious problem and
the leaves are still edible
, but you can minimise it by removing and destroying affected leaves.
Can I transplant Silverbeet?
Silverbeet is a vegetable that can be sown in spring or planted to the ground a bit later if you've purchased it in nursery pots. … For nursery-sown seedlings, transplant to their
growing bed as soon as 4 or 5 leaves have formed
, spacing plants 12 to 16 inches (30 to 40 cm) apart on all sides.
What is Silverbeet good for?
Silverbeet is a good source of
iron, vitamins K, A and C and calcium
. It is full of antioxidants and the vitamins within it help to prevent inflammation. Silverbeet contains potassium, which helps to maintain blood sugar levels plus a high fibre content which is beneficial in reducing blood cholesterol.
Can you eat Silverbeet stems?
The stems can be removed from the leafy section and cooked like
asparagus
, or sliced and cooked. Both the stems and leaves can be used together; the stems take longer to cook so add the leaves 3-4 minutes after the stems. Silverbeet suits quick cooking methods like stir frying, steaming or microwaving.
What does Silverbeet taste like?
Silverbeet tastes best after cooking, since it is somewhat tough to be used raw as its leaves feature a
bitter taste and rough
texture. Once it's cooked, it looses the bitterness and becomes mild, sweet even. Very much like spinach.
