How to Grow Chard(Swiss Chard)
Growing Chard
in Your Vegetable Garden
| Nutrition | Watering Instructions | Harvesting |
| Climate | Fertilizing Instructions | Storage |
| Soil | Challenges | Tips |
| Planting |
*** Easy to Grow ***
Swiss Chard is a vegetable that is similar to spinach, but not related (it is actually a member of the beet family).
Growing Chard is a gardening favorite, namely because it is easy to grow, and it has such a long harvesting season. Both the stems and leaves are eaten. The stems of some varieties grow in a rainbow of colors, adding a nice visual for your garden.
Note: When growing chard, (if you wish to extend the harvest period) remove the flower stems as they appear.
Keep the beds free of weeds and keep the roots cooler by mulching for protection from hot weather.
How to grow Chard - Nutrition Information
Dietary Fiber, Chromium, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Vitamin C, A, E, B6, K, Thiamin, Folate, Zinc, Phosphorus, Riboflavin.
How to grow Chard - Climate & Growing Conditions
Growing Chard can be done in nearly any gardening climate (except extremely hot and extremely cold temperatures).
NOTE: Hot temperatures tend to cause this vegetable to bolt (go to seed).
How to grow Chard - Prepare the Garden Soil
Your efforts in growing Chard will best most fruitful in well-drained soil with full (or part) sun exposure. Prepare the garden bed before planting chard by digging in compost or well-rotted manure.
A soil pH level between 6.5-7.0 is best for growing chard. (see - testing your garden soil pH level.)
How to grow Chard - Planting
Dig your rows 3" deep and 16” apart. Apply fertilizer (or compost) to the bottom of the row. Add garden soil on top of the fertilizer, filling to 1" deep and firming down the soil layer. Plant the chard seeds, fill with soil and water. Keep moist but not soggy.
Gardening Tip for Growing Chard - DO NOT plant your chard next to your potato patch. They will stunt each other's growth & invite insects and plant diseases. For more information, review companion planting.
Seedlings should appear in 14 days. When the chard seedlings are 1” high, thin the patch so that each plant has 1 foot of space around it. Growing chard with at least 1 foot of space will help avoid plant diseases and make for healthier plants.
Note: One planting will last for the whole gardening season!
How to grow Chard - Water
When growing chard, keep soil evenly moist with regular waterings.
How to grow Chard - Fertilize
Use nitrogen rich fertilizers for growing chard.
How to grow Chard - Gardening Challenges
Problems are rare, but you may see: leaf spot, aphids, leaf miners
Gardening Tip - Practice good vegetable gardening by rotating your crops within your garden space with each new season. This will prevent many plant diseases.
How to grow Chard - Harvesting
Swiss chard tends to have a very long harvest period. When the outside leaves are at least 6" long, harvest as needed by picking (only) the outside leaves. Do not cut the stalks, but break or peel off in a downwards motion.
Leave the younger stalks alone, so the plant continues to grow (it will produce this way for you all season). Or, you can cut the whole plant to 2” tall, and let the entire swiss chard plant grow again.
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Note: the advice and information contained herein is based upon our experience and study. As with any advice, please apply at your own discretion.