How to Plant Chard

Chard, also known as Swiss chard, is a versatile vegetable to add to your garden. The leaves can be used raw in salads or they can be cooked similar to spinach. Even the stems of the plant are edible once cooked. Chard is not a picky plant, able to survive neglect and poor garden conditions where other vegetables would falter. Chard is also resistant to many diseases and pests. Planting chard is simple for even the novice gardener.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seeds Fertilizer

1. Choose a permanent spot for the chard. Chard can withstand partial shade and poorer soil conditions so you can choose a spot where other plants don't flourish.

2. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch apart in rows 3 feet apart. Start the seeds once the nighttime temperatures reach 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds will germinate in 7 to 14 days in most cases.

3. Thin the seedlings to approximately 3 inches apart. Water regularly.

4. Harvest the outer leaves as needed. You can begin harvesting the leaves within 4 weeks of sprouting. To harvest stems, cut them off near the base but avoid cutting the stems of the inner leaves.

5. Add a general purpose vegetable fertilizer in late spring for more lush growth. This will ensure the plants will continue producing through late fall.

Tips & Warnings

• A cold frame can prolong the growing season well into winter. Chard grows well in all U.S. hardiness zones.
• Remove aphid-infected leaves from the plants immediately.

References

• Gardener's Net