SILVERBEET-RED RIBBED
SILVERBEET-RED RIBBED
A$3.50
Availability: 45 in stock
Beta vulgaris
SILVERBEET-RED RIBBED also known as Swiss chard and seakale beet. It originated in Portugal, Spain and the Mediterranean islands then spread to Britain before finding its way to Australia and New Zealand. The red ribbed variety has distinctive red stalks and ribs and is less common but much the same as the white stalked variety. It has a stronger flavour that Spinach with coarser leaves, but grown in much the same way and prepared in the same way. The leaves are eaten like Spinach and the stem cooked like celery. Silverbeet tolerates the heat and cold better as well as drought and disease.
A cool season vegetable it can grow to 75cm high and 25cm wide. A Biennial plant grown as an annual before it has a chance to seed. Thrives in Sub-tropical, temperate and cool climates but too much heat and humidity can bring on fungal leaf diseases. Can tolerate full sun or partial shade with nitrogen rich well drained soil and plenty of water ever 2 to 3 days. But don’t overwater as they don’t like to be water logged so will grow well in sandy loam or alluvial soil. Sprinkler in the mornings only so leaves have time to dry out. Coastal plants can tolerate high salinity after the seedling stage. So start in door then plant out when big enough to handle the salty conditions.
pH: 60- 6.8 – Hardy Biennial /Annual
Soil Temp 10 – 29C
Silverbeet grows all year round and is easy to cultivate. It is similar to spinach but has a stronger flavour.
| Germination Time (Days) | 7 – 10 days |
| Maturity Time (Days) | 8 – 10 weeks |
| Sowing Depth (mm) | 5mm |
| Plant Spacing (cm) | 20 to 30cm |
| Row Spacing (cm) | 50cm |
| pH | 6 – 8 |
| Soil Temperature (°C) | 10 to 29C |
| Hardy / Frost Tender | Hardy |
| Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings | Direct /Raise Seedlings |
| Seed Preparation | grow in clusters then thin out |
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
30 - 60 cm (1 - 2 feet)
Season of Interest
Spring to Autumn
Temperature Range
10 - 24 °C
Determine / Indeterminate
Annual / Perennial / Biennial
Biennial
Frost Hardy / Tender
Frost Hardy
Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade
Full Sun to Part Shade
Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings
Sow direct / raise seedlings
Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil with compost
pH
6.0 - 7.5
Soil Temperature
10 - 24 °C (50 - 75 °F)
Seed Preparation
None required
Sowing Depth
1 cm (0.4 inches)
Plant Spacing
15 - 30 cm (6 - 12 inches)
Row spacing
30 - 45 cm (12 - 18 inches)
Watering
Moderate
Germination Time (Days)
5 - 10 days
Harvest Time (Days)
50 - 60 days
Good Companion Plants
Carrots, Onions, Beans
Bad Companion Plants
Potatoes, Corn
Pests
Leaf miners, Aphids
Diseases
Downy mildew, Leaf spot
More About Us
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
