Chard’s a Good Pick Year-Round
Question: I would like to grow Swiss chard. Is it difficult to grow? What conditions does it prefer?
C.M., Orange
Answer: Swiss chard is one of the easiest vegetables to grow and can survive year-round in Southern California. It prefers warm weather, but grows in winter and attracts fewer pests then.
Swiss chard bears heavily and produces greens for most of the year. It does well both in containers and in the ground.
Chard is actually a form of beet, although only the leaves and stems--not the roots--are eaten.
Sow seeds in late winter or early spring 1/2-inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows spaced 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin seedlings when they are 3 or 4 inches tall to 1 foot apart. (If properly stored, Swiss chard seeds remain viable for four years.)
Most chard varieties are ready for harvest in 50 to 60 days. Harvest by cutting away a few of the fully expanded outer leaves from each plant once they are 7 to 9 inches tall. This stimulates leaf development in the center. It is important to harvest the outer leaves before they become stringy and tough. Each plant can be harvested numerous times and peaks at 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall.
Chard has a mild flavor compared to many other salad greens. Like most greens, it is important to keep the soil evenly moist, because fluctuations between wet and dry can leave them tasting bitter.
Weed the bed regularly to prevent competition for nutrients and water. Fertilize every four to six weeks with fish emulsion or another mild fertilizer. Mulch to keep the soil moist and cool. Sun to partial shade is preferred.
If you want to rejuvenate the whole plant, cut off the leaves an inch or two above the crown and, in a few weeks, new growth will appear.
There are several colors of chard available, including golden yellow, bright scarlet and green and white. Some recommended varieties for our area are ‘Fordhook Giant’ with white stalks, ‘Lucullus,’ which has yellowish-green leaves and yellowish-white stalks, ‘Perpetual’ with smooth, dark-green leaves and ‘Rhubarb’ and ‘Ruby,’ which both have red leaves and stems. (Red chard varieties tend to have a sweeter, stronger flavor than green chard.) For a color and taste sensation, try ‘Bright Lights,’ a seed blend with rainbow-colored stems and tasty green or burgundy leaves.
Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners @yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are returned within two to three days.
