How to Grow Chard from Seed: Your Ultimate Guide for a Lush Harvest

Did you know that one cup of boiled Swiss chard gives you 636% of your daily vitamin K? This leafy green is full of nutrients and very versatile. It’s a relative of spinach with big, tender leaves and colourful stems. You can enjoy it raw or cooked, making it a culinary gem.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to grow chard from seed. We’ll cover choosing the right varieties to harvesting a lot of chard. Chard is easy to grow and full of nutrients, making it great for gardeners.

What do I Grow on a UK allotment? Bright Lights variety matures in 55 to 60 days and grows to about 20 inches tall.

Key Takeaways

Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron.
Chard seeds should be planted about 1/2 inch to 3/4 of an inch deep, two to three weeks before the last frost.
Chard plants prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Regular watering and proper pest and disease management are key to growing healthy, bountiful chard plants.
Chard can be harvested repeatedly by picking the leaves when they reach 6 to 8 inches in length.

Choosing Your Chard Varieties: A Rainbow of Options

There are hundreds of chard varieties, offering a wide range of colours. Chard is easy to grow and can provide greens all year round. It regrows quickly after harvesting and doesn’t bolt in hot weather, unlike spinach.

Chard is not just beautiful; it’s also packed with nutrients. A single cup of cooked chard gives you more than three times the daily vitamin A and K you need. It’s great in salads, stews, and soups. Chard comes from the Mediterranean and was first grown in Sicily, Italy.

When picking a chard variety, think about your growing zone, season, sunlight, and how you’ll use it. Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, and others are popular for their unique looks.

✅ Check the price on Amazon

Bright Lights Chard variety matures in 55 to 60 days and grows to about 20 inches tall. (recommended)
Fordhook Giant reaches a height of 20 to 28 inches tall and matures in 60 days.
Lucullus matures in 52 to 55 days and grows to about 20 inches tall.
Magenta Sunset matures in about 65 days and grows to about 24 inches tall.
Orange Fantasia matures at about 20 inches tall within about 65 days after planting.
Peppermint matures in 53 to 63 days and can grow to about 24 inches tall.
Rhubarb chard matures in 60 days and grows to 20 to 24 inches tall. (popular)

With so many chard varieties, you can choose the perfect one for your garden. Whether you love Bright Lights or prefer the classic Fordhook Giant, there’s a chard for everyone.

Preparing for Planting: Timing and Location

When growing chard, timing and location are key. It loves sunny spots but can handle some shade in summer. Rich, moist soil is best. Adding compost in autumn or winter helps a lot.

Before sowing, weed well and add fertiliser at a rate of two handfuls per square metre/yard. Sow chard outdoors from early spring to mid-summer. Two sowings, in April and July, give the best results.

Optimal Soil Conditions for Chard

Well-draining, rich soil that is high in organic matter
Slightly acidic to neutral pH, between 6.0 and 7.5
Soil temperature should be between 50-85°F (10-29°C) for optimal germination

When to Plant Chard

Early spring (April) for a summer harvest
Mid-summer (July) for a spring harvest the following year

Planting Time	Harvest Period
Early Spring (April)	Summer
Mid-Summer (July)	Spring (following year)

“Chard is a resilient and versatile vegetable that can thrive in a range of growing conditions, as long as the soil is well-prepared and the timing is right.”

Sowing Chard Seeds: The First Step to Success

Sowing chard seeds correctly is key to a great harvest. Chard seeds are big and easy to plant. This sets you on the path to a successful chard patch.

For an early start or to protect seedlings from pests, sow seeds indoors in early spring. Put one or two seeds in each tray filled with seed compost. Cover them with 2.5cm (1 inch) of compost. When seedlings are 5cm (2 inches) tall and frost is gone, move them outside. Space them 30cm (1 foot) apart.

Or, you can plant seeds directly in the ground from April to July. Make a 2.5cm (1 inch) deep hole, 10cm (4 inches) apart, and fill with soil. This method is perfect if you don’t want to start seeds indoors.

Remember, chard seeds germinate best at 55-75°F, with soil at least 40°F. But, temperatures over 80°F can harm germination. So, check your local weather to find the best time to sow.

Chard Seed Starting Tips
Sow seeds 1-2 per module, covering with 1 inch of compost Transplant seedlings outside after last frost, 1 foot apart Sow directly outdoors, 4 inches apart, in 1 inch deep drills Ideal germination temperature: 55-75°FAvoid sowing in temps above 80°F

By following these tips, you’ll grow a healthy chard crop. A delicious and nutritious harvest awaits. Start by planting those seeds. Watch your chard grow and thrive!

Nurturing Your Chard Seedlings: The Early Days

Caring for your chard seedlings early on is key for a good harvest. Swiss chard loves full sun but can handle partial shade too. It needs at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.

The best temperature for Swiss chard is between 50°F and 75°F (10°C to 24°C). It can even handle frost, surviving temperatures as low as 20°F (-6°C).

For a strong start, give your chard seedlings the right conditions. Swiss chard likes slightly acidic to neutral water pH (6.0-7.0). Water them often until they’re strong, and keep mature plants watered during dry times.

As they grow, thin out the seedlings. Leave them 30cm (1 foot) apart, or 5cm (2 inches) for mini-leaves. This stops overcrowding and lets each plant grow well.

When the soil is warm and damp, add a thick layer of mulch like garden compost. This keeps moisture in and weeds out. Make sure to leave space around each plant to avoid stem rot.

By following these steps, your chard seedlings will grow into a lush, productive harvest. Remember, regular watering, proper spacing, and mulching are crucial in the early days.

Caring for Your Chard Plants: The Growing Phase

Chard is a green, versatile veggie that gives back a lot if you care for it well. As your chard grows, remember a few important things for it to stay healthy and productive.

Harvesting regularly is key to getting fresh chard leaves. Chard is a cut-and-come-again crop. This means you can pick the outer leaves and let the inner ones grow. When you harvest, take leaves that are at least 5 centimetres (2 inches) tall. Cut them off 5 centimetres (2 inches) above the soil to help them grow back.

Chard loves full sun and well-draining soil that’s not too rich. The soil should have a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Make sure your plants get about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week. This can be from rain or extra water. A nitrogen-rich organic fertiliser, like blood meal or compost, can also boost their growth.

When it’s time to harvest, you can pick a few leaves or cut all the leaves at once. Leave 5 centimetres (2 inches) of stem above the soil. The small leaves are great raw in salads. The bigger leaves are tasty steamed, sautéed, or in stir-fries.

With the right care, your chard plants will keep giving you lots of food for months. They’re a great choice for any garden.

Pest and Disease Management: Keeping Your Chard Healthy

As a dedicated chard grower, I know how vital it is to keep my plants healthy. Chard is usually strong, but pests and diseases can still harm it if not managed. To get a lush harvest, I focus on preventing these problems. Let’s look at the common issues and how I tackle them.

Young chard seedlings face threats from slugs, snails, and birds. To protect them, I use fleece or other barriers. I also watch for leaf miners, which can damage the leaves. If I see them, I remove the affected leaves to keep the plant healthy.

In wet weather or when plants are too close, chard can get fungal diseases like powdery mildew and downy mildew. To fight these, I keep my garden clean, ensure good air flow, and use fungicides if needed.

Chard can also get leaf spot, root rot, and fusarium wilt. I’m always on the lookout for these issues. If I find them, I remove bad leaves, fix the soil, and use fungicides or biofungicides.

By being informed and proactive, I keep my chard crop healthy and thriving. With the right strategies, my garden stays vibrant, and I enjoy a great harvest every season.

Troubleshooting Common Chard Growing Problems

Chard is a hardy crop that can handle light frosts. White-stemmed varieties are often the hardiest. But in very cold places, the leaves can get tatty over winter. To keep them looking good, cover them with cloches or protect the crowns with straw. Then, cover with fleece.

Plants in big containers can be moved into a greenhouse over winter. This keeps them safe from the cold.

In hot weather, chard may bolt, producing flower stems. To stop this, cut off these stems as soon as they appear. Chard grows well in containers, as long as they’re big enough and in a sunny spot.

Common Chard Growing Problems

Some common issues when growing chard include:

Seedlings failing to emerge or seeds rotting
Seedlings being eaten or cut off near the soil level
Leaves becoming deformed and yellowish due to aphids
Tiny shot-holes in the leaves from flea beetles
Irregular small holes eaten by cabbage loopers
Leaves partially eaten by blister beetles
Mosaic virus, which has no cure and is spread by aphids and leafhoppers
Curly top virus, leading to twisted, brittle stalks and stunted plants, spread by leafhoppers
Downy mildew, a fungal disease affecting the leaves
Cercospora leaf spot, a common fungal disease in areas with heavy rainfall and warm temperatures
Boron deficiency, resulting in leaf discoloration and stunted growth, often found in soil that is too alkaline or acidic

To avoid these problems, I grow chard in loose, well-drained soil in full sun. They prefer cool-season conditions. Thinning the plants to about 2 inches apart helps with root development. With the right care, I enjoy a great chard harvest.

Advanced Chard Growing Techniques

I’ve found some top tips for growing chard that make it last longer and grow more. One great trick is succession planting. By planting small amounts every few weeks from March to August, I get fresh chard all season.

For an early start, I plant chard in mid-summer. The plants that survived winter start growing again as it gets warmer. In mild places, chard might even keep producing leaves in winter, but it grows slower.

Using overwintering and succession planting, I can enjoy chard for longer. Chard can handle light frosts in spring and some freezes in autumn. This lets me grow chard from early spring to late autumn with a bit of planning and care.

FAQ

What are the different varieties of chard?

Chard comes in many colours but tastes the same. Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Ruby Red, and Golden are some favourites.

What are the ideal growing conditions for chard?

Chard loves sunny spots but can handle some shade. It thrives in rich, moist soil. Adding organic matter and potassium helps a lot.

How do I sow chard seeds?

You can sow chard seeds directly or start them indoors. For an early start, sow indoors from spring. Then, move them outside after the frost. Or, sow directly outside from April to July.

How do I care for chard seedlings and plants?

Chard is easy to care for. Water it when it’s dry and weed regularly. Thin out seedlings and mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out.

How do I harvest chard?

Chard offers multiple harvests. Take a few leaves at a time or cut all leaves, leaving 5cm for new growth.

What pests and diseases affect chard, and how do I manage them?

Chard faces threats from slugs, snails, and birds. Leaf miners can damage leaves. In damp weather, it’s vulnerable to fungal diseases. Keep it clean, ensure good air flow, and use fungicides if needed.

How do I grow chard in cold and hot weather conditions?

Chard withstands light frosts but may look worn in cold weather. Use cloches to protect it. In heat, cut off flower stems to keep leaves growing.

Can I grow chard in containers?

Yes, chard grows well in containers. Use ones that are 40cm wide and deep, filled with compost, and placed in the sun.

How can I extend my chard harvest?

To keep chard coming, plant small batches every few weeks from March to August. Use overwintering techniques for a steady supply of greens.

✅ Follow My YouTube Channel for guidance along the season or just pop in and say Hi 🙂

Back To Home Page

Want More Information?

Here are some other guides from the Web to give you a complete understanding of growing cabbage from different sources.

Share this page: