When to Plant Silverbeet in Perth, Mediterranean Guide

Also called chard, Swiss chard.

Sow now in Mediterranean Soil 15.6°C, best 10–30°C

Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Perth), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean

In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.

Jump to section

Planting calendar
How to grow
Local tips and varieties
Pests and problems
Harvesting
Storing and preserving
Other zones and related crops
Common questions

Add to my garden

This Silverbeet guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Planting window: All year
Days to harvest: 50 days
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Regular
Spacing: 35 cm apart
Soil pH: 6.0–7.5

Silverbeet (called Swiss chard elsewhere in the world) is arguably Australia's most reliable and productive leafy green.

Published 17 February 2026 · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Planting Calendar for Mediterranean

Jan S/T/D
Feb S/T/D
Mar S/T/D
Apr S/T/D
May S/T/D
Jun S/T/D
Jul S/T/D
Aug S/T/D
Sep S/T/D
Oct S/T/D
Nov S/T/D
Dec S/T/D

S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow

You can sow silverbeet in any month in Mediterranean, but the months are not equal. Summer heat brings faster bolting and heavier pest pressure, so pick a heat tolerant variety, sow little and often, and give afternoon shade from December through February.

Want a nudge when it is sowing time?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Mediterranean zone right now, Silverbeet included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

How to Grow Silverbeet in Mediterranean Australia

Soil: Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Deep roots (90-120cm) mean it benefits from deep soil preparation. Tolerates a range of soil types.
Salt: Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
pH Range: 6.0-7.5
Sunlight: Full sun in cool climates. Part shade tolerated and beneficial in warm zones. Minimum 4 hours sun.
Spacing: 35cm apart, 45cm between rows
Watering: Deep watering 2-3 times per week. Deep roots mean it handles short dry spells well once established. Consistent moisture produces the most tender stalks.
Good companions: Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Beetroot
Keep away from: Potato, Quinoa, Sweet Corn (competes for nutrients)
Grow before it: Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it: Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before leafy greens go back in. Leaf crops want the nitrogen the legumes left behind.

Members see the exact salt threshold, how much harvest it loses as salt rises, and what to grow instead. See what members get

Mediterranean Growing Tips for Silverbeet

Recommended Varieties

Fordhook Giant
Rainbow Chard
Rhubarb Chard
Lucullus

Key Challenges

Summer water restrictions
Powdery mildew in dry weather

Pro Tips

The ultimate low-effort leafy green for Perth and Adelaide
Autumn planting grows through winter on rainfall alone
One planting = one year of greens with minimal effort

Pests and problems for Silverbeet in Mediterranean

Members see each pest score and pest risk alerts for your area. See what members get

Organic prevention (Aphids): Avoid excess nitrogen. Encourage beneficial insects. Remove infested leaves.

Browse the full pest library →

Harvesting Silverbeet

When ready: Leaves are 20-30cm long with firm, thick stems. Bright colour. Snap cleanly when bent. Harvest outer leaves first.

How to harvest: Cut or snap outer leaves at the base, leaving the central growing point and inner leaves. Always harvest from the outside in. Never cut the centre out.

Storing and preserving silverbeet

How to keep it

Blanching and Freezing. Wash. Separate stems from leaves (stems take longer to cook). Chop stems into 2cm pieces, blanch 3 minutes. Add leaves for final 1 minute. Ice bath, drain, squeeze out water. Pack into freezer bags. Keeps: 10-12 months.
Dehydrating. Wash and remove thick stems. Blanch leaves 2 minutes, cool, drain. Spread on dehydrator trays. Dry at 55C for 6-10 hours until crispy. Store whole or crumble. Keeps: 6-12 months.
Silverbeet and Ricotta Rolls (Freeze). Blanch leaves, cool. Fill with ricotta, parmesan, nutmeg filling. Roll up. Place in baking dish. Freeze before or after baking. A practical way to preserve a glut. Keeps: 3 months frozen.

Canning safety. Low-acid vegetables like silverbeet must be pressure canned, never water-bath canned.

Members see the full pressure-canning detail for silverbeet (1 tested recipe). See what members get

What silverbeet costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Members see the price history and price alerts for silverbeet. See what members get

What members get

Soil and weather from your nearest station
An email when it's time to sow
Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
Price history and price alerts
Pest risk alerts for your area
Full salt and canning detail

Join GardenBuddy.au

Common Questions About Silverbeet

When do you plant silverbeet in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Jul
Subtropical (Brisbane): all year
Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Apr, Jul to Dec
Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): all year
Mediterranean (Perth): all year

Can you grow silverbeet all year round in Perth?

Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Mediterranean zone, though not every month is equally easy. Year-round. Best planted in autumn to exploit winter rainfall. Summer with irrigation.

What else is silverbeet called?

Silverbeet is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it chard, Swiss chard. Same plant, same growing advice.

When should I plant Silverbeet in Perth?

Year-round. Best planted in autumn to exploit winter rainfall. Summer with irrigation.

What soil temperature do Silverbeet need?

Silverbeet germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 30°C.

How do I know when Silverbeet are ready to harvest?

Leaves are 20-30cm long with firm, thick stems. Bright colour. Snap cleanly when bent. Harvest outer leaves first.

What are the best Silverbeet varieties for Perth?

Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Chard, Rhubarb Chard, Lucullus.

What grows well with Silverbeet?

Good companion plants for Silverbeet include: Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, Beetroot.

Are silverbeet salt tolerant?

Only a little. Silverbeet are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.