What silverbeet likes best…

Rich, well drained soil with lots of compost. If drainage is a problem, grow it in raised beds or containers.

Water. Although silverbeet needs free draining soil it must be kept well watered, especially in summer. Silverbeet leaves are 93% water!

Mulch to conserve soil moisture.

Full sun or part shade.

Nitrogen. Before planting, feed the soil with compost and well rotted animal manure (e.g. sheep pellets) or blood and bone. A green crop dug into the soil in spring is another excellent source of nitrogen.

A kiwi winter. Silverbeet is a coastal plant, which thrives in a wide range of climates, but it does especially well in cool, frost-free conditions. Warm humid conditions can favour fungal leaf spots, while hard frost may damage the leaves.