Do you need to soak Swiss chard seeds before planting?
For a fall harvest, plant chard seeds about 40 days before the first fall frost date. (Many varieties will tolerate a light frost.) To speed germination, soak seeds in water for 24 hours prior to planting.
How do you start Swiss chard from seed?
Sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep, spaced 10-30cm (4-12″) apart in rows 45cm (18″) apart. Days to Maturity: From direct sowing. Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. Swiss chard prefers loose, deep, and fertile soil that is rich in organic matter.
How long does it take for Swiss chard seeds to germinate?
Seed germinates in 5 to 7 days at or near 60°F to 65°F (16-18°C)—but sometimes seed can take up to 3 weeks to germinate if the soil is cold. Germination will not occur in soil chillier than 50°F (10°C). Keep the soil evenly moist until seeds germinate. Sow seed ⅓ to ½ inch (13mm) deep.
How do you germinate chard seeds?
Make a shallow drill in well-prepared soil in a sunny spot and sow your Swiss chard seeds thinly, approximately 1.5cm deep. Cover seeds with soil and water well. Sow in rows 40cm apart. You can sow chard from March to September.
Should I start Swiss chard seeds indoors?
Can I start Swiss chard early indoors? We recommend sowing directly in the garden as Swiss chard grows quickly, but you can start indoors 6-8 weeks early if you wish.
When should I start my chard seeds indoors?
Swiss chard seeds can be direct sown any time after the last frost date, and the seeds will germinate once the soil temperature has reached 50°. For earlier harvests, Swiss chard may be started indoors three to four weeks before the last frost date. Sow seeds in sterile seed-starting mix, with two seeds per cell.
What month do you plant Swiss chard?
It tastes its best when the mature plant experiences some cold nights and may develop bitterness when grown in warm months. It is also a fairly rapidly maturing crop that is ready for harvest in about 50 to 75 days from planting. The best time for Swiss chard fall planting is July 15th through August 15th.
Does Swiss chard come back every year?
Chard is a biennial plant, meaning it has a two year life cycle, but it is cultivated as an annual in the vegetable garden and harvested in its first season of growth. Once it begins to flower and set seed in its second year, its leaves turn bitter and unpalatable.
Does chard need light to germinate?
Chard requires nearly full sun, so place it in an area that receives ample sunlight nearly all day. If this isn't possible, set it under a grow light for at least 6 hours per day.
At what temperature does Swiss chard germinate?
55-75°FSwiss chard can be sown after soils reach 40°F. Seeds germinate best at 55-75°F and require 7-14 days to emerge. Temperatures above 80°F reduce seed germination. Seeds should be planted ½ inch deep.
Is Swiss chard hard to grow?
Chard is generally easy to grow. It just needs enough room, water and a perhaps a bit of fertilizer. As part of your spring garden, you'll want to get Swiss chard seed into the ground in early to mid-spring, or at least when you're sure there's no more chance of frost.
Why are my chard seedlings floppy?
Potted swiss chard seedlings are used as examples. The seedlings are growing well but are a bit floppy or spindly. This happens because the warmth from being started indoors encouraged their fast growth but since there is not enough light for them, they started reaching for the light.
What month do you plant Swiss chard?
It tastes its best when the mature plant experiences some cold nights and may develop bitterness when grown in warm months. It is also a fairly rapidly maturing crop that is ready for harvest in about 50 to 75 days from planting. The best time for Swiss chard fall planting is July 15th through August 15th.
Does Swiss chard come back every year?
Chard is a biennial plant, meaning it has a two year life cycle, but it is cultivated as an annual in the vegetable garden and harvested in its first season of growth. Once it begins to flower and set seed in its second year, its leaves turn bitter and unpalatable.
How deep do you plant Swiss chard seeds?
Sow seeds ½ to 1 inch deep, 2 to 6 inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 apart. Like beets, chard “seeds” produce more than one plant, and so will require thinning. Thin to 6- to 12-inch spacings. If you plan to harvest whole plants, make succession plantings through late summer.
What temperature does Swiss chard germinate?
55-75°FSwiss chard can be sown after soils reach 40°F. Seeds germinate best at 55-75°F and require 7-14 days to emerge. Temperatures above 80°F reduce seed germination. Seeds should be planted ½ inch deep.
How to Plant Swiss Chard
Direct sow seeds outdoors about two weeks before your projected last spring frost date. Alternatively, you can get a head start by starting seeds indoors roughly three to four weeks earlier and planting the seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Swiss Chard Care
Swiss chard will tolerate partial shade, but it does best in full sun. Roughly four to six hours of direct sunlight on most days is ideal.
Harvesting Swiss Chard
Most Swiss chard varieties are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days. It's best to harvest while the leaves are still glossy, snapping two or three leaves off the outside of each plant. If you don't disrupt the crown it will fill back in with more leaves.
How to Grow Swiss Chard in Pots
Swiss chard is fairly easy to grow in containers. The pot doesn’t have to be especially deep, as the plants have pretty shallow roots. Just make sure to space plants apart based on their mature size if you’ll have multiple chard plants in a container. Also, the container should have adequate drainage holes.
Common Pests & Diseases
One of the biggest pests of Swiss chard is deer. Although it's not a favorite plant, they will eat it when there's not much else available, especially in the fall. Slugs will also chomp on chard; they'll put holes in the leaves and tunnel into the ribs. Furthermore, leaf spot can cause brown patches on the leaves.
When to Sow Swiss Chard Seeds
Swiss chard seeds are special in that they can germinate in relatively cold soil, as low as 50 F. (10 C.). Swiss chard plants are somewhat frost hardy, so the seeds can be sown outside directly in the soil about two weeks before the average last frost date of spring.
How to Plant Swiss Chard Seeds
Growing Swiss chard from seed is very easy and germination rates are usually fairly high. You can get your seeds to perform even better, however, by soaking them in water for 15 minutes immediately before sowing.
Swiss chard care
Before we get into how you can grow delicious Swiss chard right in your kitchen, let’s first go over the things a Swiss chard plant needs to grow. This will help you eliminate spaces in your home where it won’t thrive and select a location and care routine to allow these colorful greens to flourish.
How to plant Swiss chard indoors
Before you get all your supplies out, you’ll want to bring out your Swiss chard seeds and soak them in water for 24 hours before you plant them. This speeds up the germination process and will increase the likelihood of a successful planting. Once they’ve been soaking for 24 hours, you can get everything else ready.
Best Uses for Swiss Chard
The leafy greens of Swiss chard make a tasty addition to salads and cook up well as a side dish. You can even substitute chard for spinach in most recipes. Many gardeners grow chard as a food crop because, like many other leafy greens, it's quite nutritious. Chard is full of vitamins A, C and K as well as copper, iron, magnesium and potassium.
How to Grow Swiss Chard
Soak your chard seeds in water for 24 hours to encourage faster germination. You can then sow them directly into the ground two or three weeks before the last spring frost unless you live in an extremely warm area. Chard seeds germinate in a soil temperature around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and struggle if the soil is warmer.
In What Zone Does Swiss Chard Grow Best?
Because it's grown as an annual, you can grow Swiss chard anywhere in USDA zones 3 through 10. Those living in warmer regions may need to start their chard early to prevent warm soil temperatures from impeding germination, but once it is established, chard will tolerate both hot weather and light frosts.
When Should You Plant Swiss Chard?
Ideally, you'll want to plant your Swiss chard two to three weeks before the last anticipated frost when soil temperatures are about 50 degrees. The exception to this rule is the 'Ruby Red' or 'Rhubarb' chard variety.
Soil, Sunlight and Water Recommendations for Swiss Chard
Chard likes rich, fairly neutral soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 8.0. It prefers loamy, well-drained soil and does better in loose soil than it does in impacted clay and other heavy soil.
How to Winterize Swiss Chard
Technically, Swiss chard is a biennial plant. This means that it spends one growing season producing healthy leaves and stems. It then goes dormant during the winter before enjoying a second growing season. During the second season, the plant focuses on producing seeds and reproducing before it dies.
How to Harvest Swiss Chard
You can begin harvesting your Swiss chard when it's about 6 to 8 inches tall. This usually occurs 55 to 60 days after planting. Chard is a "cut and come again" plant, which means you can revisit each plant several times during the season. You'll simply harvest the largest leaves and stems and come back for the younger ones later when they're ready.
1. Adaptable
No garden space? You can grow Swiss Chard in a container on a patio or a balcony.
2. Pest-free
I’ve found Swiss Chard to be free from pests, unlike Kale and other brassicas.
3. Heat tolerant
Unlike spinach and most lettuces, Swiss Chard will grow right on through hot summer temperatures. This is one of the top reasons why I love to grow Swiss Chard.
4. Productive
Sow Swiss Chard seed in early spring, and that same Swiss Chard will produce all spring, summer, and into the fall. I’ve even had some Swiss Chard plants overwinter without any protection. I’m in zone 7a.
5. Versatile
Eat the leaves raw or cooked. Eat the stems cooked. Dehydrate leaves or stems for future use. Blanch and freeze leaves for future use. See my list below for more ideas…
6. Beautiful
Last but not least, Swiss Chard is just beautiful. I’ve grown Bright Lights and Five Color Silverbeet, and I love them both. The brightly colored stems in shades of pinks, yellows, and whites bring beauty to the garden and to the table.
Kathleen Henderson
Let's get real! I’m Kathleen Henderson, your Natural Living Mentor. I’m on a mission to help families see the joy in real food, while finding natural remedies and creating a nontoxic home. Learn more about my story >>
