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Swiss chard prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. In the North, sow from early spring to midsummer for a fall crop; in the South sow in fall to spring. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are large enough to handle.
What month do you plant Swiss chard?
Plant Swiss chard in the spring, 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost date. These colorful, nutritious plants grow well in raised garden beds, containers, and in-ground gardens.
Does Swiss chard grow 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. Both the leaves and stalks of chard are edible.
How far apart do you plant Swiss chard?
Plant seeds one-fourth to one-half inch deep, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin Swiss chard to four to six inches apart. Thin spinach to two to four inches apart.
How do you start Swiss chard?
Start planting about 2 to 3 weeks before last expected frost. 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.
Does Swiss chard like full sun?
Swiss chard prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. In the North, sow from early spring to midsummer for a fall crop; in the South sow in fall to spring. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 18 inches apart.
What can you not plant next to Swiss chard?
Plants to Avoid Chard is not a fan of most herbs with the exception of mint. These two make great garden buddies. Chard also shouldn’t be planted near potatoes, corn, cucumbers, or melons. All of these will either compete for soil nutrients or foster harmful pests.
Do slugs eat chard?
Swiss chard is tempting to slugs, but if the plant is healthy, it will outgrow these battles. If the problem is particularly bad (and it can be on allotments), cover the area with a fine mesh netting when the plants are around 10cm tall or before the tiny adult miner fly finds them.
Can you grow Swiss chard in pots?
Swiss chard can be grown successfully in containers and even in among your flower borders, where it will complement the hot colours of late summer flowers.
Can you transplant chard seedlings?
Sow. Chard grows best in an open, sunny site, although it can tolerate some shade in summer. It prefers rich, moisture-retentive, free-draining soil. Alternatively, sow in modules or trays indoors, and transplant outside when large enough to handle.
Can Swiss chard grow in shade?
Swiss Chard Among vegetables, leafy greens are the most tolerant of shade, including kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula and chard. Related to both beets and spinach, Swiss chard tastes a little like both and is fairly easy to grow.
How do you harvest chard so it keeps growing?
The most common method for how to pick chard is to cut off the outer leaves 1 ½ to 2 inches (4-5 cm.) above the ground while they are young and tender, about 8 to 12 inches (20-31 cm.) long. Older leaves are often stripped off the plants and discarded to allow the young leaves to continue to grow.
Should I soak Swiss chard seeds before planting?
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. Plant your Swiss chard seeds at a depth of ½ inch (1.3 cm) in rich, loosened, moist soil.
How long does Swiss chard take to grow from seed?
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 plant chard seeds in pots?
Place the container in a sunny, sheltered spot and fill it with compost to within 2.5cm (1in) of the rim. Sow seeds 1cm (1/2in) deep and 2.5cm (1in) apart each way, spread over the whole area, and water with a fine spray. After the seedlings have emerged, thin them out to eventually leave plants 5-8cm (2-3in) apart.
Why are my Swiss chard falling over?
This is usually due to the plant getting to much moisture, be it through rain or watering. The best way to eliminate this problem is to thin out the leaves so that air can circulate around the plants, allowing them to dry out.
Can you eat Swiss chard raw?
Swiss chard leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw Swiss chard is less bitter than cooked. A bunch of raw Swiss chard will cook to a much smaller amount. The stalks are thicker than the leaves so they take longer to cook.
Should you let chard flower?
If you catch the bolting early and pinch off the flower stalk, you can probably salvage the leaves without too much extra bitterness. Another thing you can do if you have bolting chard plants is let them go. This will allow the seeds to develop, which you can collect to use later.
