growing swiss chard indoors

While it's often grown in gardens, it fares well when planted in containers, making it a viable option for indoor growing. 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.

Can Swiss chard be grown indoors?

Swiss chard can also be grown in a pot indoors during the colder months for a constant supply of nutritious greens. It is very easy to grow and tolerates poor soil, negligence on your part and is frost hardy. Not only is Swiss chard beautiful, but it can be used fresh or cooked.

Does Swiss chard grow back after cutting?

Chard is best treated as a “cut-and-come-again” crop. This harvesting technique involves taking only a few older leaves at a time from each plant, allowing younger leaves to continue growing for additional harvests later in the season.

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.

Can Swiss chard grow in 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.

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.

What can I plant near Swiss chard?

Top Chard Companions

Alliums. Alliums have at least two benefits as companion plants. ...
Annual Flowers. There are many types of annual flowers that would be excellent neighbors for Swiss chard. ...
Brassicas. Cabbage is widely cited in companion planting literature as a suitable buddy for chard. ...
Celery. ...
Herbs. ...
Legumes. ...
Lettuce.

Can you eat 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. ... Sauté, steam or cook the stalks in a pan with water (1/2 cup per bunch) first, then add the leaves and cook until wilted.

How do you pick 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 to 5 cm.) above the ground while they are young and tender (about 8 to 12 inches (20.5 to 30.5 cm.) long). Older leaves are often stripped off the plants and discarded to allow the young leaves to continue to grow.

How many times can you harvest Swiss chard?

Swiss chard can be continually harvested throughout the season. Harvest the outer leaves at the base of the stalk, leaving four to five inner leaves to continue growing. Swiss chard can also be harvested in closer plantings as baby greens, cutting the leaves about 3 inches above the soil and returning every week or so.

How late can you plant Swiss chard?

The best time for Swiss chard fall planting is July 15 through August 15. The exact time will depend on your zone. Areas that expect early freezes should plant earlier and use a hoop house to give the developing plants some shade and keep them from bolting. You may also select a low bolt seed mix.

Is Swiss chard healthier cooked or raw?

In its raw form, it is a good source of vitamin C. Note that the above values are for cooked Swiss chard. Like many leafy greens, Swiss chard shrinks drastically when cooked, so 1 cup of cooked Swiss chard will contain much more nutrition than 1 cup of raw Swiss chard.

Can Swiss chard survive winter?

Swiss chard not only grows well in the hot temperatures of summer, but it also tolerates frost. In fact, chard may actually taste better when it's grown in cold weather. However, plants will be killed by temperatures below 15 degrees F.

How do you harvest Swiss chard so it keeps growing?

Cut chard with garden scissors or serrated bread knife. Cut chard leaf by leaf—cut the outer leaves first allowing the inner leaves to grow larger–or cut away the whole plant one inch (2.5 cm) above the soil. Either way, the plant will keep producing new leaves.

Is Chard a perennial?

Chop large leaves to cook down like spinach, or use in casseroles, soups, and pasta. In areas that never experience a hard freeze, Swiss chard sometimes behaves like a perennial, living for several years. When it blooms, you can cut off the bloom stalk and it will produce more leaves.

How far apart should chard be planted?

Sow thinly 2.5cm (1in) deep, 10cm (4in) apart in rows 45cm (18in) apart, from March to July. Two sowings - one in April and the second in July – are usually sufficient.

Can you use egg cartons to start seeds?

You can use egg cartons as a seed-starting tray! Depending on the type of carton you have, you can even cut apart the individual sections and plant them, as the carton will biodegrade. Be sure to poke small holes for drainage, and put the cartons on a tray or in a shallow pan to catch any residual water.

Can Swiss chard seedlings be transplanted?

You can transplant Swiss chard. For summer crops, plant seed indoors in early April or about four weeks before transplanting. ... Transplant four to six inches apart, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart.

Should seeds float or sink?

Take the seeds and place them in a container of water. Let the seeds sit for 15 minutes. If the seeds sink, they are still viable; if they float, discard, because they probably will not sprout.

What can you not plant near 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.

Does Swiss chard like 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.

What vegetables should not be planted together?

What Plants Should Not Be Planted Together?

Asparagus.
Beans.
Beets.
Broccoli.
Cabbage.
Cucumbers.
Peas.
Soybeans.