Gardening A-Z

I don’t know about you but, to my mind, silver beet doesn’t come across as the sexiest of fruit or veges (not up there with seductive strawberries or racy red peppers, say). But it definitely punches above its weight in other areas.

Silverbeet, you just can’t beat it for a good vegetable companion plant.

While it may feel a bit depressing to be thinking about the cooler weather already, if you want to grow your own winter vegetables March is the time to start planting.

“The secret to a successful winter vegetable garden is planning,” says Awapuni Nurseries gardening guru, Tod Palenski. “Some vegetables can take up to three months to mature so getting seedlings in early is important.”

With the cooler weather setting in, I’m spending less and less time in the garden. Donning gumboots and heading outside is losing the battle against putting my feet up in front of the fire. So any plant that requires minimal attention at this time of year is a winner in my book.

Silver beet is versatile and is easy to care for. It is the ultimate beginner gardener vegetable. It doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and is quick to mature - making it the perfect vege to plant as the weather packs in.