It’s also pretty enough to add to a flower bed ormixed patio container.
It outlasts most other leafy greens because it doesntbolt when summer temperatures rise.
It creates a lush foil for flowering annuals or perennials.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Swiss chard is an attractive addition to container plantings for a sunny patio, deck, or balcony.
Combine it with colorful flowering annuals such asdwarf zinniasormarigoldsfor a season-long display.
Its boldly textured leaves create a pleasing contrast to annuals with small or delicate flowers.
Credit: Karla Conrad
Plant it withcoleusanddusty millerfor a container bursting with lush, colorful foliage.
Start the seeds indoors under lights for an earlier harvest.
Be sure to harden off the seedlings before you plant them in the garden.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Swiss chard grows equally well in the ground orraised beds.
Before planting, work somecompostand slow-release fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil.
For fertilizer amounts, follow the directions on the product label.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Dont throw away the thinningstheyre great in salads.
Light
Full sunfor six hours or more is best for Swiss chard.
To add nutrients and improve drainage, incorporate compost or other organic matter into the soil before planting.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
An inch of water per week is a good rule of thumb for most vegetables, including Swiss chard.
Adrip or soaker hoseis a great way to add supplemental water when rainfall is inadequate.
Temperature and Humidity
Swiss chard is considered acool-season crop.
Credit:Helen Smythe
Seed germination is best between 55F and 75F.
Most growth occurs in spring and fall, slowing during the heat of summer.
Unlike spinach, it rarely bolts in hot weather, so it can be harvested through the summer months.
Outdoors, Swiss chard isnt particular about humidity as long as its soil is kept moist.
Potting and Repotting Swiss Chard
Swiss chard thrives in containers and is attractive when combined withcolorful annuals.
It needs at least a 12-inch wide and deep container.
A 10-gallon pot has room to grow two plants.
All containers need holes to provide good drainage.
Fill the container with commercial potting soil formulated for vegetables and add compost or organic matter.
Plant the Swiss chard seeds about an inch deep and spaced 8-10 inches apart.
Keep the soil moist, not wet, and the seeds will germinate in 1014 days.
Position the container in an area that receives full sun at least six hours daily.
This biennial doesnt require repotting.
Harvesting and Storage
Begin harvesting Swiss chard when the leaves are about 6 inches long.
Leave the center to continue to produce new leaves.
Swiss chard is best when used the same day you harvest it.
However, leaves last in the refrigerator for about a week if stored in an unsealed plastic bag.
Afloating row coverIs useful for preventing these pests if theyre a problem in your garden.
A hard stream of water can knock off most aphids.
Slugs and snailsare occasionally a problem, especially on young plants.
These critters take big bites out of foliage.
Pick and destroy them if you spot them or trap them in shallow pans of beer.
Remove infected plants and provide adequate spacing to increase air circulation.
How to Propagate Swiss Chard
Soak the seeds overnight before planting to aid germination.
Thin to the strongest seedling when they are 1 to 2 inches tall.
Transplant to the gardenor a containerabout the time of your last spring frost.
Be sure theseedlings are well-hardenedbefore planting them outdoors.
Leaves vary from slightly puckered to deeply crinkled.
Rhubard Chard
Beta vulgarisvar.
Plants grow to 2 feet tall and are ready to harvest about 60 days from seeding.
Fordhook Giant
Another heirloom,Beta vulgarisvar.
Fordhook Giant has dark green puckered leaves with broad white mid-ribs.
It grows 24 to 28 inches and matures in 50 days.
Heart of Gold
Beta vulgarisvar.
Baby leaves can be harvested after 30 days; full-sized leaves are ready in 60 days.
Bright Lights
Beta vulgarisvar.
Its beautiful both in the garden (or container) and on the plate.
It matures in 55 days from seeding.
Flowers that echo the colorful stems make for a stunning display.
Profusion Zinnia
‘Profusion’ zinnias grow 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
Melampodium
Melampodiumgrows a foot tall and wide and bears an abundance of small, yellow daisy-like flowers.
Blooming nonstop from spring through frost, melampodium can be used in beds or containers as a cheerful filler.
Nasturtium
Easy-to-grownasturtiumflowers come in a range of colors, from yellow and orange to bright red.
The rounded leaves create an interesting contrast with the large upright leaves of Swiss chard.
It has a little of everything: leafy greens, root veggies, herbs, and tasty pods.
New leaves often regrow in spring from the previous years plants, providing an early harvest for spring salads.
Harvest the outer leaves so that the center of the plant continues to produce new leaves.
Harvest regularly and use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the leaves about an inch above the soil.
