how to grow chard

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.

Is chard easy 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.

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.

How long does chard take to grow?

Harvesting Swiss chard

The fully-formed leaves will be ready to harvest about 10-12 weeks after sowing, but late summer sowings may take a little longer. Cut individual leaves as you need them and the plant will keep producing new growth.

Does 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.

What can I plant next to Chard?

Swiss chard – Beans, Brassicas, and onions make the best companions for chard. Thyme – An all around beneficial plant for the garden, thyme is particularly worth planting near Brassicas (as it repels cabbage moths), and strawberries, as it enhances flavour.

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.

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.

Does Swiss chard need a lot of water?

Like all vegetables, Swiss chard does best with a nice, even supply of water. Water regularly, applying 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week if it doesn't rain. You can measure the amount of water with a rain gauge in the garden.

Does Swiss chard need 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. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are large enough to handle.

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 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.

How many chard seeds are in a hole?

To plant it in your garden, push seeds 1/2″ deep and about 10″ apart. If you plant more than one seed per hole, thin them to one every 10″ when they are about 1″ tall.

Is Swiss chard good for you?

Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse -- an excellent source of vitamins K, A, and C, as well as a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, and dietary fiber.

Can you cut back Swiss chard?

When to Cut Swiss Chard

Smaller leaves can be cut to use as baby greens in salads. New leaves continue to develop from the center of the plant. ... You can also cut back Swiss chard in early spring to remove damage from winter weather to prompt new growth in second-year plants.

Can you grow Swiss chard from cuttings?

When rainbow chard plants are about 2 months old, you can begin cutting the outside leaves from the plants as needed for your recipes. ... Once the leaves get larger (about 6 inches long) you can cut the plant just above the soil line with your kitchen shears and use the stems and leaves in your recipes.

What vegetables should not be planted together?

What Plants Should Not Be Planted Together?

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

How do you know when chard is ready to pick?

Harvest Swiss chard when the leaves are tender and big enough to eat. Swiss chard is ready for picking 30 days after sowing if you want baby leaves. Harvest chard 45 to 60 days after sowing if you want full-sized leaves with a thick midrib.

What grows well with corn?

10 Plants to Grow With Corn

Borage. Borage is a flower that not only attracts beneficial insects, but can deter pest worms from your corn.
Cucumber. As a vine plant, cucumber spreads out along the ground to provide ground cover for corn, preventing weeds and keeping the soil moist.
Dill. ...
Marigolds. ...
Melons. ...
Mint. ...
Nasturtiums. ...
Pole beans.

Is chard healthier cooked or raw?

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. Click to see full answer. Hereof, is Swiss chard healthier cooked or raw? Just like other leafy greens, Swiss chard is very low in calories.

Does chard give you gas?

Replace them with healthy low gas vegetables, like butternut squash, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, eggplant, spinach, and Swiss chard. ... Especially if you eat them raw, they can lead to cramps and huge gas production – so make sure to cook them thoroughly in order to avoid this.

What does chard taste like?

The large, firm leaves are mild, sweet, earthy and just slightly bitter; on the whole, it's a bit milder than spinach. The stalks -- which can be white, yellow, red, purple, pink, striped and so on -- resemble flat celery with a sweet taste slightly reminiscent of beets.