Description

Silverbeet ‘Perpetual Gator’, commonly referred to as “perpetual spinach”, is actually a silverbeet used as spinach. The texture and taste of the leaves is more like that of true spinach than other silverbeet varieties. The plants are vigorous and have a good tolerance for heat, which means they can be grown for most of the year. ‘Perpetual Gator’ has large, oval, green leaves to 60cm at maturity but is often harvested for its baby leaves. The plants are resistant to downy mildew.
Botanically, silverbeet is the same plant as chard. Although both are often called ‘spinach’, neither is related to true spinach.
Silverbeet, like chard, is the same species as beetroot; all can cross-pollinate. Being biennial, the seeds are not produced until the second year.