Beta vulgarissubsp. vulgaris, (CiclaandFlavescensGroups)
Swiss chard , B. vulgaris , is a type of beetroot . But instead of feature a well - developed and flavorful rootage , its title to celebrity is shiny knit leaves vein with bright whitened , orange , magenta , crimson , or yellow , with fast chaff to match .
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Think Spinacia oleracea meetsceleryunder neon lights , and you have a pretty good description of this colorful and nutritious vegetable . Read on for all you need to cognize to develop it in your garden !
Photo by Shanna Mallon.
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
Swiss chard is a biennial that grow as an annual in all temperate zone . It ’s audacious to approximately 15 ° farad , but while it does practiced in cool temperature , it can tolerate heat with adequate watering .
Successful polish ask a location that gets full sun to part shade , with filth that is organically productive and well - draining . To determine your dirt ’s characteristics , deport a ground tryout .
The idealistic pH range is between 6.0 and 8.0 , slightly more acidulent than for beets .
Photo by Shanna Mallon.
Also , they remark that chard is not “ day - length sensitive,”a botanical phenomenon call “ photoperiodism . ”This is why it ’s less prone to bolting , or untimely place seed , than other leafy greens like spinach and lettuce .
And while annual chard in stale climates sets no semen , plants in warmer regions set seed in the 2d twelvemonth . When they do , the leaves are no longer tasty .
In addition to maturate it for consumption , B. vulgarisis often cultivated as an ornamental . With its glossy leafage and vivid , multi - slanted root word , it makes an eye - catch focal point in beds , borders , and containers , especially in the autumn garden , as the last blossoms of summer fade .
And whether you maturate it to eat or just to reckon at , this stinger - and - amount - again veg should have its leaves cut back frequently to advance further leaf geological formation throughout the uprise time of year .
LeafyB. vulgarisis also know as leafy beetroot , mangold , unending Spinacia oleracea , seakale beet , and silver beetroot .
“ Chard ” is from the French “ carde , ” from the Vulgar Latin “ carda , ” and the Romance “ carduus . ” It means “ cardoon , ” which is the artichoke thistle , Cynara cardunculus .
Chard is a “ cultivated descendent ” of the sea beet , B. vulgaris subsp . maritima , and the first varieties have been traced to Sicily . The intelligence “ Swiss ” was added by the nineteenth century to help oneself cum catalog shoppers severalise chard from French spinach .
Propagation
B. vulgarisgrows from on an irregular basis - shaped cum clump that contain several seeds in each .
You may find it list for cut-rate sale as “ decorticated ” or “ pelletized , ” think the rough edges have been made tranquil , so it passes more easy through seeding putz .
How to Grow
When selecting motley to plant , refer seed packet for entropy on mature dimensions , to design your bed or containers appropriately .
In my region of the Northeast , folk sow chard just before the last frost , and sometimes several more clock time until mid - summertime . If you ’re rosy to live where the ground does n’t freeze hard , you may alsoplant again in the declension . B. vulgarisgerminates in 50 ° farad soil , and may clamber with temperatures that exceed 80 ° fluorine .
Since its seeds come several to a fuel pod , so you ’ll have minuscule clusters of seedling that need to be thinned out before transplanting . Keep the sturdiest and gargle and enjoy the rest as nutritious microgreens .
Start seed indoorsthree to four weeks before the last frost date , or verbatim sowing two weeks before this escort . seedling may be point outside just after the last hoar date has go along .
For those in warmer regions , she says to head sow seeds about 10 weeks before the first frost date . Place seedlings outside at four week old .
Sow seed in organically - rich soilsupplemented by compostand / or fertilizer as needed . A soil test is your best index number of what ’s command . Leafy veg benefit from N subjunction , so deal a well - balance , slow - release fertilizer if you decide to forgo the test .
At the recommended time , harden - off your seedlings . Acclimate them to the open air for a yoke of hours each day for several days prior to transplanting them into the garden or container .
If you select to pot them , provide containers with honorable drain holes and a depth of at least 12 inches . Choose a smaller - stature diverseness , and trim leaf as soon as they reach six inches , to promote more foliage than solution growth .
For garden works , you may foreshorten leave at height from six inches to two feet , depending upon industrial plant size of it . The smaller the folio and stalk , the more tenderise the grain . In addition , leaving mature leave unharvested may result in more root ontogenesis and fewer raw leaves .
Prepare your garden dirt to a profoundness of about 12 inches , work in any recommend amendments , and feed if you so choose .
Place one seedling every 12 inches , leaving about 18 inches between rows . Water and maintain even moisture , never grant the soil to all dry out during the plants ’ acclimatisation to their new position .
Some folks like to grow “ sister greens , ” meaning they like to reap them at a height of at least six inch magniloquent . If this is your plan , consider planting much closer together , about six inches , to get more leaves little leaves per square foot .
Once established , works take an column inch or so of water throughout the growing season . Supplement in the absence of rain , or plant will slow leaf product until wet is restored .
Companion Plants
Good “ companions ” are those with like sun , soil , and piss needs that do n’t pull in pests and diseases that would have an adverse gist on your veg .
Good option for sharing space withB. vulgarisare members of thebrassicas and cole crop , likebroccoli , Brussels germinate , daikon , andcabbage .
Other first-class comrade includechamomile , tick-weed , lettuce , mint , nasturtium , andsweet alyssum .
Companion works like sweet madwort and chamomileattract pollinator , some of whom feed on the pests that may be attracted to Swiss chard . In addition , havingrefreshing birdbathsand welcome birdhousesattract feathered friendsthat also feed on insect pests .
obviate plantingcorn;cucurbitslikecucumber , melon vine , andpumpkin ; andpotatoesnearby for the reasons stated above .
Read more about companion plants for chard here .
Growing Tips:
Cultivars to Select
When shopping for seed , you ’ll follow across an array of cultivars . There are glossy , puckered leaves in shades of unripe and deep red , with rib and veins in a rainbow of chromaticity that includes magenta , orange , purple , red , white , and yellow .
By the room , there ’s no cultivar called “ Rainbow Chard . ” Merchants plainly mix dissimilar cultivars to achieve a multi - slanted bunch for cut-rate sale .
Some exceptional varieties to wait for are :
Bright Lights
require multi - colored solid and stripy stalk , as well as both mysterious ruby-red and fleeceable leaves with this sort .
‘ Bright Lights ’
It mature to a pinnacle of up to 20 inches tall .
you may line up seed useable at dead on target Leaf Market .
Fordhook
idle dark-green farewell and white stems characterize this character .
‘ Fordhook ’
The standard cultivar has a small stature , with husk from 8 to 10 column inch tall , making it a utter container gardening option .
Find it at Eden Brothers .
Fordhook Giant
A larger adaptation of ‘ Fordhook , ’ this cultivar tops out at 24 inches .
‘ Fordhook Giant ’
you’re able to find seminal fluid available at Burpee .
Lucullus
If you ’re looking for a variety prized not only for its sapidity , but its exceptional heat and dusty permissiveness , white-hot - ribbed , weak fleeceable - leave ‘ Lucullus ’ may be the one .
‘ Lucullus ’
It get hold of a height of up to 24 inches , and often winters over , for an early spring crop .
you may find seed at lawful Leaf Market .
Orange Fantasia
placard as “ bolt - resistant , ” this beauty has burnished orange stalk and dark green leaves .
‘ Orange Fantasia ’
Stalks are 8 to 10 inch tall , get to it suited for a lowly container garden .
recover ejaculate at Amazon .
Ruby
With its abundant shiny red stems and coloured fleeceable leave of absence , ‘ Ruby ’ makes a pretty decorative as well as an edible in the summertime through fall landscape .
‘ Ruby ’
Often call “ Rhubarb Chard , ” this form may kind may reach out a height of 24 in .
witness seeds uncommitted at reliable Leaf Market .
Managing Pests and Disease
Chard is not prone to insects or disease . The best way to ward off both is to fall out the commend planting suggestions . With nutrient - rich soil , good drain , equal aeration between vegetables , and a minimum of weeds , you ’re well on your way to achiever .
It ’s also wise to splay crop and not co - flora with prickly-seeded spinach or beets , to inhibit insects specific to this botanical grouping , such as the beet leafhopper , that winter over in the soil and live their lives on these industrial plant , as well as chard .
Even with the better intentions , during the growing season , you may have to deal with thirsty critter , bug , and infection , so here ’s what to follow for and how to do by each .
Herbivores
Animals such as deer , land squealer , and rabbits may add up a - nibbling , so considerplanting in raised beds , andbeneath floating row covers , to keep them at alcove . In addition , chicken - wire or deer fencing may help .
Insects
If plants become target due to poor soil , drainage , spacing , or weed command , you may see the followers :
Insects are a two - fold menace . First , they transmit diseases that they broadcast with each voracious collation of plant tissue . And second , they may make your vegetable their abode , laying eggs , nourish ravenous appetites , have damage or last , and wintering over to do it all again next year .
( This is one grounds for crop rotation , another is soil depletion . Consultour clause on cover croppingfor more information on this subject . )
float row coversare your best wager for shunning . In addition , a soil - storey software offood grade diatomaceous earthis an excellent deterrent . And if you see bug and egg on your plants , hand foot them , or dislodge them with a steady flow of water from your garden hose .
Weeds like lamb ’s quarters and pigweed are in the same botanical family asB. vulgaris . They attract leafminers and their seedlings closely resemble those of chard , so weed well and with care !
Find more bakshish on identifying and hold in pests that regard chard plants here .
Disease
While not prone to disease , shape like over- or under - watering may make it susceptible , resulting in damaged plant tissue and development deformity .
It does tolerate humidness , butB. vulgaristhat is planted too closely , or in filth that does n’t drain well , or both , may knuckle under to :
The beet leafhopper loves sunny locations , so planting in partial nicety my deter this virus - carry pest . An constituent fungicide may stanch the spread of fungus , but roots that yield to oversaturation do n’t usually recover .
Remove any leave that are damage by fauna , insect , or disease , and discard them .
Read our full guide on chard disease identification and control here .
Harvesting
This veggie is a slue - and - come - again coinage that provides multiple harvests during the growing season . You may be capable to cut your first tender leaf as early as late spring . Harvesting angry walk when they are young and tender , at about six inches tall , is an excellent way to get the maximal number of harvest per year .
The best clock time to pick vegetables is during the nerveless morning or evening hours .
When reap both immature and older leaves , always take the outer parting first , leave the jr. , interior 1 to continue to originate . Make clean cutting across each stalk about an inch above the base of the plant life .
As nightfall draw in to a conclusion , and light frosts begin , you may dig up your plant , solution and all . If you keep some dirt impound , you may store them in a cool , moist location forcontinued growth and harvests into the wintertime .
or else , abridge single stalk , or shear off the intact flora at the land stratum , for one last harvest of the time of year .
Another way to optimise your crop output is to use floating row covers to retain warmth mighty into winter .
Get more information on harvesting Swiss chard here .
Seed Saving
If you ’re acquire as an annual , your flora wo n’t go to seed . However , if your plant life winter over and return the following outpouring , you may have the pleasure of seeing tiny light-green flowers set seminal fluid at the end of the second growing season .
Once you see this , the leaves will start to smack bitter , and it ’s clock time to catch for seminal fluid fuel pod shaping .
When most of the cod face chocolate-brown , remove total stalks of them and set them in open paper traveling bag in a dry placement .
Give them a week or two , and then rub your fingerbreadth down each stem to release the thoroughly dry seeded player clusters . fork them from the chaff and store them in shock , or zippered plastic bagful , in a cool , dry location . seed should rest viable for five years .
Preserving
Rinse all leaves and stem before storehouse to rid them of detritus and insects , and pat dry .
Harvested leave stay fresh for about three Day in the fridge . If you put it them in a zippered plastic bag with a damp paper towel , maybe a workweek .
To make the most of a big crop , you may blanch , cool , and freeze leafage for up to a year .
you’re able to freeze foliage raw or dry out them to use as you would parsley flakes . you’re able to even pickle the stalks .
Chard is an excellent source of copper color , iron , magnesium , manganese , and potassium , and vitamins A , C , and K. The most colourful varieties offer up anti - inflammatory betalains .
And please note : chard moderate oxalic acid , so consume it in moderateness if you have been apprize to supervise your oxalate intake for optimum kidney health .
You may bask the leaves and stems cooked or uncooked , together or separately . Like many greens , chard has a slightly bitter savour that grows mild and savory during cooking .
When organize it , think cut up the leaves and stalk separately . This way , you may take out cooked leaves and allow the somewhat tougher stems to go on on until tender . preparation is the undecomposed way to use older leaf .
Young leaves are splendid when lightly wilted in sautés . And more mature leaves make a novel and colourful alternative to lettuce and cultivated celery , when turn out up separately in salads .
Quick Reference Growing Chart
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
Here are some formula to show off your homegrown chard :
Carrot, Rainbow Chard and Red Potato Daal with Seared Chicken Breasts
Try this Indian Daal with Seared Chicken Breasts for an aromatic dish fortify with theanti - inflammatory benefit of gilded Curcuma domestica .
Find the recipe on our sister site , Foodal .
Cauliflower and Chard Fritters with Spicy Yogurt Cilantro Sauce
If you ’re looking for a quick homework brunch sweetheart that ’s a little out of the box , load up with vegan aliment , and packs a cayenne pizzazz , assist your invitee this tasty fritter that can be either a main entree , an appetizer , or a side .
slowly enough to make for a speedy lunch !
Get the detail on Foodal .
French Lentil Soup with Spices and Chard
And what ’s a soothe heater - upper that ’s so good you ’ll even want it in the summertime ?
Why , Elettaria cardamomum - impregnate French lentil soup , of course . Take the vegan choice and make it with coconut milk for an even rich , odorous experience .
show about it now on Foodal .
Sautéed Swiss Chard with Caramelized Onions, Almonds and Raisins
With your abundant harvest , you ’ll find this dish is your novel go - to - choice for impromptu get - togethers .
The pairing of gently wilted greens and tender onion with nipping nuts and chewy raisins is a textural fete for the palate that always satisfies .
Find out what all the spat is about on Foodal .
And for More Ideas…
If you apply the leave for a recipe and have stems remnant , consider them a vegetable in their own rightfield , and prepare them separately .
They make an excellent transposition for asparagus , removing its earthy high-pitched tone and exchange it with bouquet .
In summation to the leaves and shuck , the “ crown ” where the stalks arise is also edible and may be chop up and add to soups and stew . To enjoy it at time of year ’s end , simply comprehend up the integral plant life , slice off the root , rinsing and fix .
Garden to Table
Are you ready to farm nutritious leafy chard with its multicolor stems in your garden this yr ?
Eating a variety of colorful vegetables is one way to up your nutritional game , and the best unity are the ones you originate yourself .
receive the pleasure of fresh - from - the - garden leaf beet !
face for some more leafy greens to add to your garden ? Check out these growing pathfinder :
Photos by Raquel Smith and Shanna Mallon © enquire the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . earlier published September 7th , 2019 . Last updated September 4th , 2023 . Product pic via Burpee , Eden Brothers , Seed King Express , and honest Leaf Market . Uncredited exposure : Shutterstock .
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Nan Schiller
