edenhana

Silverbeet

One of the easiest and most reliable NZ vegetables, croppable almost year-round in most regions with minimal fuss.

Sun
shade
Water
moderate
Spacing
30cm
Harvest
Ready in 40-60 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
Continuous cut-and-come-again leaves for months
Cost to grow
~$6 NZD
Grocery value
~$40 NZD
Companion plants
Beetroot, Onion, Lavender
Plants to avoid nearby
Basil
Common diseases
Leaf spot
Common pests
Aphids, Leaf miner, Slugs and snails

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: January-December. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: January-March and August-December.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Can be sown almost year-round in most regions, reflecting its reputation as one of the easiest crops to grow
    • Tolerates a shaded spot better than most vegetables, handy for germinating through warmer months

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Slugs and snails are the main threat to young seedlings; protect until leaves toughen up
    • Aphids and leaf miner may appear on soft new growth

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Leaf spot can develop in damp or crowded conditions; space plants well and water at the base
    • Keep checking for leaf miner trails and aphid clusters on new leaves

  4. Harvest40-60 days from sowing, then ongoing

    • Cut outer leaves as needed for a continuous supply over months rather than harvesting the whole plant
    • Aphids and slugs and snails can persist through ongoing cropping, so keep checking

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