Swiss chard is one of the easiest and most productive greens you can grow. It handles cool weather and summer heat, and it seldom bolts in its first year. One spring sowing can feed you from late spring until a hard frost.
Chard is the same species as beets (Beta vulgaris). Instead of a big root, it grows large leaves and thick, crunchy stems. Some varieties have white stems. Others have bright red, pink, yellow, or orange stems that look as good as they taste.
When to plant Swiss chard
Sow chard outdoors about 2 weeks before your last spring frost. Young plants handle light frost. You can keep sowing until midsummer.
For a fall crop, sow again about 8 to 10 weeks before your first fall frost. Mature chard handles frost well, and the leaves often taste sweeter after a cold night.
You can also start chard indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost and plant out the seedlings.
Where to plant Swiss chard
- Full sun, or part shade in hot climates
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost
- A soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
Chard grows well in containers and in flower beds. The colorful varieties look great mixed in with flowers.
How to plant Swiss chard seeds
Each chard “seed” is a small cluster that holds several seeds. One seed can send up two to four seedlings, so you will need to thin.
- Soak the seeds in water overnight to speed up sprouting.
- Sow seeds 1/2 inch (1 cm) deep and 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) apart.
- Space rows 18 inches (45 cm) apart.
- Keep the soil moist. Seedlings come up in about 7 to 14 days.
- Thin plants to 6 inches (15 cm) apart for baby leaves, or 12 inches (30 cm) apart for full-size plants.
Use the thinnings in salads. Snip them at soil level so you do not disturb the plants you keep.
Water and feeding
Give chard about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water a week. Steady water keeps the leaves tender. A layer of mulch holds moisture in and keeps the soil cool. Read more about organic mulch.
Chard is a leafy crop, so it likes nitrogen. Side-dress with compost or water with a fish fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks, more if leaves look pale.
How to harvest Swiss chard
Start picking baby leaves for salads when they are 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) long. For cooking, pick leaves when they are 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) long.
Always pick from the outside of the plant. Cut or twist off the outer stems near the base. Leave the small center leaves to keep growing. Pick a few leaves from each plant every week, and the plants keep producing all season.
Chard wilts fast after picking. Put the stems in a glass of water, or wrap them in a damp towel in the fridge. Use within a few days.
How to cook Swiss chard
The stems take longer to cook than the leaves. Cut the stems out, chop them, and cook them first. Add the leaves for the last few minutes. Use chard any way you would use spinach, in soups, pasta, eggs, and stir-fries.
Best Swiss chard varieties
| Variety | Stem color | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Bright Lights’ | Mixed red, pink, orange, yellow, and white | Colorful, good in pots and flower beds |
| ‘Fordhook Giant’ | White | Large, heavy plants, handles heat |
| ‘Ruby Red’ | Red | Deep red stems and dark leaves |
| ‘Peppermint’ | Pink and white striped | Pretty and productive |
Overwintering Swiss chard
Chard is a biennial. It grows leaves the first year, then flowers and sets seed the second year.
In mild zones, chard can live through winter with a layer of mulch or a row cover. In colder zones, a plant that survives winter often sends up fresh leaves in early spring. Pick those leaves before the plant sends up a flower stalk.
Common Swiss chard problems
- Leaf miners leave pale, blotchy tunnels in the leaves. Pick off damaged leaves and use row cover.
- Slugs leave ragged holes and slime trails. Here is how to get rid of slugs.
- Aphids gather under the leaves. Spray them off with water. Read more about aphids.
- Small round spots with reddish-purple edges are often a fungal leaf spot. Remove spotted leaves and give plants more room for air.
- Bolting in the first year can happen after a long cold snap in spring. Pull bolted plants and sow again.
More greens to grow
Chard grows well alongside these crops:
Seed companies I like
These are the seed companies I order from for my own garden.
- Botanical Interests: beautiful packets with growing notes printed inside
- High Mowing Organic Seeds: certified organic, grown in Vermont
- True Leaf Market: big selection of hybrids, microgreens, and cover crops
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