[Lindeggs]

Every time I eat my lovely garden silverbeet I end up with furry teeth.   I don't think they are really furry, but they feel like they are!

I have a vague idea that you can put something with the leaves when you're cooking them that fixes this problem.  Does anyone know what it is?

[arugula]

Hi Lindeggs,

I'm not familiar with silverbeet, but I have googled it before replying to you. Is it a type of chard, as that is how it looks in the photos..

[mumofstig]

I think it's the oxalic acid in the leaves....it's the same thing as rhubarb...that makes your teeth go funny as well (too much of it in the leaves, that's why you musnt eat rhubarb leaves)

With chard the darker, more mature leaves are the 'worst'

[Lindeggs]

Oh you don't call it silverbeet!  I just googled pics of chard and it's definitely the same stuff.  Well.  You learn something new every day. 

I'm growing the ones with white, red and yellow stems just like these:
http://www.flaglerorganics.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/chard.jpg

The plants have been in the garden for a while but I pick a few leaves every day so the leaves aren't very old.  We have had some hot, dry weather though so I think some of the plants are just about to bolt to seed.