Silverbeet
Silverbeet is a useful long-lasting and
nutritious stand-by vegetable. Sometimes sold as spinach but the latter
is much softer textured, narrow-stemmed plant that grows well in cool
conditions.
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Requirements to grow Organic Silverbeet
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Choose a position with at least half
sunlight and well-drained limey soil containing plenty of organic
material.
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Planting time for Growing Organic
Silverbeet
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Can be sown or planted out at any time.
Where cold winters are experienced, autumn and winter sowings are
inclined to run to seed in spring. In tropical areas sowing is from
early autumn through to spring.
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Cultivation for Organic Silverbeet
- Six to 8 plants are sufficient for
the average family. Seed germinates readily if soaked overnight prior
to sowing. Better to sow in a container or seed bed then transplant
about 20 cm apart in rows as individual seeds may produce several
seedlings that need thinning to a single plant.
- Allow the seedlings a few weeks to
establish then encourage lush leafy growth by feeding each fortnight
with a water-soluble plant food. When harvesting, remove the entire
leaf by twisting downwards and outwards. Always leave 4 well-formed
leaves in the centre of the plant as over-picking weakens.
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Special problems in Organic Silverbeet
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Small yellow spots that turn brown may
occur during wet conditions due to a fungus infection. Remove the worst
infected leaves and spray the remainder with copper oxychloride. Grey
scribble-like tracery through the foliage is caused by the tunneling of
leaf miner fly larvae. Control by spraying with Lebaycid or Rogor and
do not harvest for at least a week afterwards.
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