When to Plant Silverbeet in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
Also called chard, Swiss chard.
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 21:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 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, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Silverbeet guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
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 · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- 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 Subtropical, 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.
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How to Grow Silverbeet in Subtropical 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.
Subtropical Growing Tips for Silverbeet
Recommended Varieties
- Fordhook Giant
- Rainbow Chard
- Lucullus
- White Silver
Key Challenges
- Leaf miner in warm months
- Cercospora in summer humidity
- Plants look tired by second summer
Pro Tips
- The ultimate set-and-forget leafy green for SEQ
- One autumn planting provides leaves for 10-12 months
- Rainbow Chard is ornamental enough for front-yard gardens
Pests and problems for Silverbeet in Subtropical
- Fungal Spots and Aphids High
- Downy Mildew Watch
- Powdery Mildew Watch
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Cutworms Watch
- Rust Early sowing to allow crop to mature before rust season. Resistant varieties where available. Wide spacing. Do not save seed from infected... Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Cercospora Leaf Spot Avoid overhead watering. Space for airflow. Crop rotation. Remove crop debris. Watch
- Leaf miner Leaf miner in warm months Watch
Organic prevention (Aphids): Avoid excess nitrogen. Encourage beneficial insects. Remove infested leaves.
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.
What silverbeet costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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
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 Brisbane?
Yes, every month is on the calendar for the Subtropical zone, though not every month is equally easy. Year-round. Best planted February-April (autumn) for longest production. Summer growing possible but leaf quality is lower.
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 Brisbane?
Year-round. Best planted February-April (autumn) for longest production. Summer growing possible but leaf quality is lower.
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 Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Chard, Lucullus, White Silver.
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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.