Swiss Chard
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Swiss Chard
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Swiss chard in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- How many Swiss chard plants to grow
- Growing conditions for Swiss chard
- When to plant Swiss chard
- How to plant Swiss chard
- Watering, fertilizing, and pruning Swiss chard
- Companion plantings for Swiss chard
- How to harvest, store, and use Swiss chard
Growing Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a cool-season, tender-perennial vegetable.
Closely related to beets, chard plants, 12–16 in. (30–40 cm) tall, are somewhat reminiscent of rhubarb and bear broad, curly, shiny, heavily veined leaves on attractive red or white stalks.
With New Zealand and Malabar spinach, chard is among the most heat-tolerant of leafy green vegetables. Both its greens and stalks are edible.
Swiss Chard Plant and Care Guide
How Much to Plant
Allow 4–5 plants per household member.
How to Plant
Seed germinates in 7–10 days.
Average climates: Sow seed in full sun when soil warms to 50–85°F (10–29°C).
Mild-Winter Climates: Sow seed in autumn or late winter.
Autumn–Winter Gardens: Sow seed in June or July or transplants in July or August for harvest in Autumn–Winter.
Sow seed 1/2-in. (12 mm) deep, 1–2 in. (25–50 mm) apart, thinning to 8–12 in. (20–30 cm) apart, in rows 15–25 in. (38–63 cm) apart. Plant successions every 2–3 weeks.
Best Conditions for Growth
40–80°F (4–27°C). Chard bolts in sustained temperatures over 80°F (27°C). Shade plants in full sunlight at temperatures over 85°F (29°C) to prevent bitter flavor in leaves.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich. 6.0–6.8 pH. Prepare soil at least 2 ft. (30 cm) deep.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep evenly moist; avoid wetting foliage. Fertilize every 4–6 weeks with 10–5–5 formula. Cultivate. Lodge or pinch flower stalk if plants begin to bolt. Inspect frequently for foliage damage due to chewing and sap-sucking insect pests, root damage by boring pests.
Autumn–Winter Gardens: Protect from frost and freezes beginning in October.
Pairing Recommendations
Chicory, garlic, leeks, mustard, onions.
Maturity, Picking and Gathering
45–55 days. Harvest beginning when plants are 6 in. (15 cm) tall, thinning outer leaves and leaving the central growth bud to resprout. In row plantings, harvest down the row over successive days; the first plants will recover as you reach the end of the row.
How to Store and Preserve
Fresh in vegetable keeper of refrigerator for 2–3 weeks; blanched, chilled, and frozen, 6 months. Eat chard greens fresh or steamed as for collards, spinach, and other greens; use diced chard stems to thicken and color soups and stews.