Swiss chard is a member of the beet family grown for its rosette of large, crinkly green leaves on thick pink, white, or rainbow stalks. Crops can increase to 16 inches tall and leaves and stalks will also be harvested plenty of circumstances over the method a season on a cut-and-come-again agenda.
Swiss chard will also be served raw or cooked.
Swiss Chard Rapid Emerging Tips
- Swiss chard grows easiest inside the cooler time of the 365 days. Sow chard inside the garden 2 to 4 weeks finally frost has passed in spring. Expand Swiss chard again in autumn,
- To get an early get began, sow Swiss chard indoors as early as 3 to 4 weeks faster than the typical final frost date in spring for transplanting out when plants are 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) tall.
- Once established Swiss chard will tolerate heat and frost. Plant chard moreover in summer season for a fall harvest.
- Swiss chard yield: plant 2 to a few chard plants in keeping with circle of relatives member.
Where to Expand Swiss Chard
- Expand Swiss chard in whole sun; chard will tolerate partial colour.
- Swiss chard grows easiest in well-worked, well-drained soil rich in herbal topic, even though chard does no longer desire soil that is too acidic.
- Swiss chard grows easiest in a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
When to Plant Swiss Chard
- Swiss chard grows easiest in cool temperatures; top temperatures will slow down leaf production.
- Sow chard inside the garden 2 to 4 weeks finally frost has passed in spring.
- To get an early get began, sow chard indoors as early as 3 to 4 weeks faster than the typical final frost date in spring for transplanting out when plants are 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) tall.
- Plant Swiss chard moreover in summer season for a fall harvest.
- Once established Swiss chard will tolerate heat and frost.
- In mild-winter climates, Swiss chard will also be grown at some stage in the wintry climate.
Planting and Spacing Swiss Card
- Sow Swiss chard seed ½ inch deep from 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5cm) apart.
- Thin successful seedlings from 8 to 12 inches (20-30cm) apart.
- Space rows 18 to 24 inches (45-61cm) apart. Chard grows from a seed cluster (plenty of seeds to a cluster, similar to beets).
- Seed clusters are much more likely to provide plenty of seedlings so thin to probably the most robust seedling once plants are 3 inches (7cm) tall. Decrease the weaker seedlings off at the soil stage with small scissors.
- Swiss chard can increase crowded, then again leaves can be smaller.
- Crowded plants would in all probability tend to bolt and transfer to seed further in short.
Container Emerging Swiss Chard
- Swiss chard will increase in an 8-inch (20cm) pot. Plant 2 or 3 plants in a container.
- In upper bins, set chard in huge rows on 8-inch (20cm) amenities.
- Select older, outside leaves first and allow more youthful, delicate leaves to increase on.
Watering and Feeding Swiss Chard
- Keep Swiss chard planting bed evenly rainy for quick, delicate expansion.
- Get in a position planting beds with well-aged compost in advance of sowing.
- Facet dress chard with aged compost at midseason.
Swiss Chard Important different Crops
- Excellent vital different plants for Swiss chard include chicory, garlic, leeks, mustard, onions.
- Avoid emerging Swiss chard with legumes, potatoes, or tomatoes.
Swiss Chard Pests and Diseases
- Aphids and leaf miners will attack chard. Regulate aphids via pinching out the affected leaves or spray them away with a blast of water.
- Leaf miners feed on the inside of leaf surfaces. Remove leaves with important leaf miner damage and look underneath leaves for a row of pearl-white eggs; injury them.
- Swiss chard has no critical sickness problems.
Harvesting Swiss Chard
- Swiss chard can be ready for harvest in 55 to 60 days from sowing.
- Select outside leaves as early as 3 inches long then again faster than leaves increase to 10 inches long. Older leaves may have an earthy style.
- Harvest Swiss chard on a cut-and-come-again agenda; remove a pair of outdoor leaves at a time.
- Whilst you harvest all of the plant, cut back it back to about 3 inches (7cm) above the soil and it will increase back.
- Chard that overwinters will also be harvested again the second 365 days.
Storing Swiss Chard
- Chard will keep inside the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
- Chard will keep inside the freezer for up to 6 months for individuals who remove the stem.
Swiss Chard Varieties to Expand
- Dark green, crumpled leaves: Argentata (55 days); Fordhook Huge (60 days); White King (55 days).
- Pink chard: Rainbow (60 days); Ruby Pink (55 days); Vulcan (60 days).
- Dark green blank leaves: French Swiss Chard (60 days); Green (60 days); Perpetual (50 days).
- Mild green chard: Huge Lucullus (50 days); Lucullus (50 days).
About Swiss Chard
- No longer extraordinary name. Chard, Swiss chard, sea kale, Swiss beet, sea kale beet.
- Botanical name. Beta vulgaris cicla
- Beginning position. Europe, Mediterranean
Additional tips: Chard Seed Starting Tips.
