Chard is known by a number of different names in including Swiss Chard, Spinach Beet,and Leaf beet. Grown for its tasty and nutritious leaves and leafstalks. Colorful leaves and petioles make it great for edible landscaping and ornamental plantings. Chard is one of the more nutritious, versatile vegetables. It is rich in both vitamins K, A, C and E, plus several B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron and dietary fiber, as well as antioxidants. Chard is a good source of calcium. Throughout history, various parts of the plant have been used to treat everything from ulcers to dandruff. It's leaves look a little like spinach but its stems and leaves come in shades of pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. Chard is actually a beet that really doesn’t produce a bulbous root. These wonderful plants do, however, produce many large, dark leaves that can have red, white or yellow stalks. These leaves are perfect in dishes that include greens.









Colorful stems and bright green leaves make Swiss chard the single most glamorous garden green as well as a nutritious vegetable. Because it does not ship well, you are not likely to find it at the grocery store. Growing Swiss chard yourself is the only way to have beautiful leaves like these.









The best Swiss chard you'll ever eat is that which you grow yourself, and fortunately it's easy to cultivate.

. How To Grow . Chard is one of the easiest and most satisfactory plants you can grow in a home garden. It is a close cousin to the beet, but has been selected over the centuries for its ability to produce abundant leaves, rather than roots. Chard, is becoming more popular thanks to the cultivars with brightly coloured leaf stalks and the revival of interest in growing ornamental vegetables. Chard is exceptionally easy to grow, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners looking for a no-fuss crop to get them started.





There are a few differences for sowing seeds indoors or outdoors. The best tips for growing chard is to plant the seed early. By early, this means getting the seeds planted in early to mid spring. A spring planting will go on producing through spring, summer, and fall.

From here there are many excellent varieties of Swiss chard to choose from!

. Indoor Sowing . Growing 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.



Chard is easy to sow as the seeds are quite big !





. Fill the seed tray with compost and brush off any excess. When filling the tray rub the compost through your hands to break up any lumps. Give the tray a sharp bang on your table to settle and with your fingers make small depressions in each cell about a fingernail or 2.5cm deep.

. Sow 1 seed per module which will produce 3-5 little plants.

. Push the seeds with a pencil or with your finger and cover the seeds with another layer of compost then scrape across the top of the tray with a stick to remove excess.

. Gently water your seeds.

. Place your trays in your greenhouse, cold frame or windowsill to germinate.

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In about 7-14 days, seeds will germinate and young sprouts will appear.





. Hardening Off .

Hardening off means getting your plants used to more hostile outdoor conditions. Leave the plants outdoors on mild days, progressing to every day and finally all night.

. Planting Out Seedlings . If you are growing your chard in modular trays now is the time to plant them out. Plant in a fertile well drained soil at this spacing : 30 cm between plants, 35 cm between rows.



Make a planting hole the approximate size of the seedling plug with a trowel or dibber.

Push the soil in around the seedling to form a good seal while avoiding pushing downwards and compacting soil.



Water very well and gently your seedling. . Outdoor Sowing . Planting Swiss chard is very similar to planting beets, its close relative. And like beets, Swiss chard is a hearty plant, able to grow in almost any condition other than very hot or very cold temperatures. While it is tolerant of many soil types, having a soil that is rich in organic matter will help them produce even more delicious vegetables. Chard can occupy the same position for many months, so make sure you can afford to dedicate a suitable space for a longer period. Chard loves a sunny, open position. Grow it in soil that’s both moist and fertile. . Dig the soil in the spring before sowing, removing big stones, weeds and incorporating plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure.



. Determine date of first frost and begin work in the garden 6-8 weeks prior.

. Prepare soil by turning, creating a soft, rich loamy texture to at least a 4-6"depth.

. Always Check for good organic Always Check for good organic Seeds

. Sow chard seeds from mid March to mid May

in shallow drills 2.5 cm deep, 30cm apart in rows 35 cm apart.

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Cover them back over with soil, gently pat down then water along the rows to further settle the soil and prime your seeds for germination.

. For a constant supply, try sowing a new row every three weeks to pick over winter.









. In the early growth stages, protect seedlings and transplants with a row cover.

. Spread mulch around seedlings to conserve soil moisture and keep weeds at bay.

. Thinning .

Once the seedlings appear you will need to thin them out because each chard seed actually contains a little clump of several seeds which may all sprout.





Thin them in stages until the plants are one foot (30cm) apart and leave the strongest seedlings plenty of space to grow. Thin the weaker seedling to leave the strongest one. Don’t pull up the seedlings you wish to discard, nip with your fingernail or a pair of scissors to avoid damaging neighbouring roots. Chard can also be planted in containers if you want a container garden or are limited on space. Keep your plantings to 1-2 plants per 12 inch in pot. This way, you can be sure your plant has plenty of room to perform for you.