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.

The leaves of silver beet (or swiss chard as it's called overseas) are nutrient rich; packed with fibre, vitamins C, E and A, and folate, which is particularly great for expecting mums. Plus it contains the antioxidant lutein, which is important for eye health.

But it's not just for those on a health kick; silver beet is also good to eat. It's best mates with feta (try it in a scrumptious silver beet and feta filo pie). And briefly steamed, it makes an easy vege side dish, and is handy to wilt into soups at the last minute to boost your five-plus-a-day count.

Best of all, silver beet is so easy to grow. If one of your New Year's resolutions was to start a vege garden (hey, it's April but it's never too late to get going!), why not kick things off with this leafy staple?

Simply pick up some Awapuni Nurseries silver beet seedlings from your local supermarket, The Warehouse, Bunnings or from our online store. There, you'll find the regular version of the plant we all know and (mostly) love, but if you'd like to add a bit of brightness to your garden, grab some coloured silver beet that has stalks in shades like pink and orange. This version isn't quite as frost-hardy as the regular sort and likes full sun, so is perfect in pots; just make sure you use a good potting mix. And if you'd like even more colour in your pot, try planting pansies around the edges.

If you're sticking with the ground (it's best in well drained soil), silver beet is great for filling empty or tight spots in your garden. And it does well in between rows of brassica veges (your cabbage, cauli, broccoli and brussels) because it's ready to harvest earlier and grows tall rather than out.

When you're ready to plant, dig a little hole and place the seedling inside, spacing them about 20cm apart. If your soil is well composted and drained, your silver beet could be ready in eight weeks, but if it isn't in tip-top shape, it might be closer to 12. Harvest your leaves as you need to, but never strip the plant right down to its heart as this will really slow down its growth. And, keep in mind, slugs and snails can be a problem so check here for tips to ensure you're not sharing your precious produce with these undesirables.