Swiss chard (silverbeet)

About the crop: This crop is biennial. It usually needs two growing seasons before it finishes its life cycle. You can normally start harvesting about 60-120 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for leafy vegetable.

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by wind. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Temperate; widely grown It is grouped under: Vegetables.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 12 and 22 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 500 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2600 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6.2 to 7. It does well in fertile loam. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 40 centimetres apart, and leave about 30 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1.5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 8 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.