How to grow Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris (Cicla)
Colorful, cut-and-come-again all season.
Chard is one of the easiest, most generous greens — sow once and pick outer stalks for months. It tolerates heat better than spinach and keeps going until hard frost.
Grow Swiss Chard with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Swiss Chard at a glance
| Sun | Sun / part shade |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Spacing | 8 in |
| Harvest | 50–60 days |
| Plant | Spring |
| Note | Cut & come again |
How to grow Swiss Chard, step by step
Sow in spring
- Direct-sow after the soil warms; thin to 8 in.
- One sowing produces all season.
Water & feed
- Even water and rich soil grow tender, glossy leaves.
- A little shade helps in peak heat.
Harvest outer stalks
- Cut outer leaves at the base; the center keeps growing.
- Pick regularly to keep it tender.
Swiss Chard problems & fixes
Swiss Chard — Pale tunnels in leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Leaf miners. Remove affected leaves; cover with row fabric.
Swiss Chard — Bolting in heat: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Less common than spinach; keep watered and it usually carries on.
Swiss Chard — Yellowing leaves: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Hungry or wet. Feed nitrogen; improve drainage.
Recommended swiss chard varieties
- Fordhook Giant — All-rounder. Big white-stemmed workhorse.
- Bright Lights — Colorful. Rainbow stems - beautiful and tasty.
- Ruby Red — Red. Vivid red stems and veins.
Swiss Chard month-by-month
| January | Off-season. |
|---|---|
| February | Plan beds. |
| March | Sow after soil warms. |
| April | Thin seedlings. |
| May | First harvests. |
| June | Cut-and-come-again. |
| July | Tolerates summer heat. |
| August | Keep picking. |
| September | Strong fall growth. |
| October | Sweet in cool air. |
| November | Harvest till hard frost. |
| December | Off-season. |