{"id":5819,"date":"2016-10-26T19:57:08","date_gmt":"2016-10-26T23:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/?p=5819"},"modified":"2026-07-09T14:50:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T18:50:45","slug":"growing-swiss-chard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homegardenjoy.com\/site\/2016\/10\/growing-swiss-chard.html","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow Swiss Chard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’ve been growing Swiss chard on our farm for many years now. This easy-to-grow leafy green is chock-full of vitamins and nutrients. In fact, Dr. Joel Furhman, M.D., creator of the nutritarian diet,<\/a> lists Swiss chard second only to kale in his ANDI<\/a> index, which lists the most nutritious, low-calorie foods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swiss chard is easy to grow in most temperate garden zones. For the cost of a package of seeds, you’ll have plentiful fresh greens for smoothies and salads. It cooks quickly in oil or water, and can be used in place of spinach in most recipes. And when it gets really big, and the stems are tall and thick? Dice the stems and add them to a stir-fry in place of expensive, store-bought celery. Trust me. It’s good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I’ve convinced you to grow Swiss chard, let’s take a look at this wonderful plant. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Swiss chard “Bright Lights” growing in my raised bed garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Swiss Chard Plant Profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Botanical Name<\/strong>: Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light Requirement<\/strong>s: Grows best in full sun (about 6\u20138 hours daily). Can tolerate partial shade, which is helpful during hot Virginia summers and in other southern climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil Conditions<\/strong>: Swiss chard prefers rich, loamy soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water Needs<\/strong>: Swiss chard needs moist soil, so don’t forget to water it if you aren’t receiving one inch of rainfall a week. Soil needs to be moist to encourage seed germination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Plant<\/strong>: Starts easily from seeds. Sow the seeds about eight inches apart and half an inch deep in spring, about two to three weeks before the last frost date for your USDA Hardiness zone<\/a>. It tolerates heat and will often survive the summer without much fuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pests and Diseases:<\/strong> The only pests I’ve seen on my chard are Japanese beetles<\/a> and occasional whiteflies. I grow my chard organically, in raised beds, and just leave it. The Japanese beetles only last about two or three weeks; whiteflies don’t do much damage. I do see the occasional Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar<\/a> on the chard, especially in late spring. Be careful when harvesting and reaching into the leaves with your bare hands. Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars are white and fuzzy. The fuz, however, has stinging barbs that hurt like heck when you touch them. Ask me how I know. While not venomous, they do leave a painful rash behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing Swiss Chard in Raised Beds, Pots, and Containers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Swiss chard isn’t fussy about where it grows. You can start seeds in pots or containers.<\/a> I prefer growing mine in my raised bed vegetable garden<\/a>. I plant about two rows of chard in two separate beds. This was enough for me to enjoy fresh chard leaves each morning in my smoothie and to pressure-can a batch for safe winter storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purchase seeds in the spring. Plant chard by sowing seeds directly into the soil about two to three weeks before the last frost date for your region. The seedlings can tolerate a mild dip below freezing, but not a hard frost that lasts a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water the seeds regularly, and continue watering throughout the growing season. If there is one thing I have learned over the years about growing chard, it’s keeping it watered. It doesn’t like to dry out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s it for growing it. When I said it was easy to grow, I meant it! No fertilizer, no special care, just plant the seeds, water, and nutritious vegetables are yours within a few weeks. You do not need to spray it with pesticides, either. It truly is one of the easiest vegetables to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swiss Chard Varieties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many varieties on the market. I love growing “rainbow” chard. The colorful stems are beautiful in the garden and sport shades of red, gold, white, and pink. All chards are equally nutritious and the growing conditions the same, so take your pick of which variety strikes your fancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some common varieties to grow include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n