Spinach by another name

Spinach lovers might be surprised to know that the vegetable they enjoy for its succulent leaves is not spinach, but Swiss chard. The term spinach is loosely used in South Africa.

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Swiss chard is also known as spinach beet, or in Afrikaans as snybeet.

While Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris cicla) is the main 'spinach', the true spinach (Spinacia oleracea), a paler and less robust-looking plant than Swiss chard, is said to be the tastiest of the spinach types.

There is also the succulent New Zealand spinach, a rapid grower.

Swiss chard is a year-round crop and it withstands heat and frost. It's grown for its large, crisp leaves and fresh stalks, all of which can be eaten. Its flavour is often enhanced by adding onions and potatoes, and it makes an excellent mix with many dishes and stews. It has no serious pests or diseases.

Swiss chard, a kind of beet developed for its tops instead of its roots, allows the grower to harvest the outer leaves again and again without harming the plant.