Planting Swiss Chard in Spring: A Beginner's Guide

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious leafy green to grow in your garden, look no further than Swiss chard. Not only is it packed with nutrients, but it’s also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about planting Swiss chard in the spring.

Choosing Your Variety of Swiss Chard

There are many varieties of Swiss chard to choose from, ranging in color from bright green to deep red. Some popular options include:

• Ruby Red: This variety has dark red stems and veins and deep green leaves. It’s a great choice if you want to add some color to your garden.
• Bright Lights: If you’re looking for a rainbow of colors, Bright Lights is a great option. Its stems come in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and red.
• Fordhook Giant: This variety has large, tender leaves that are perfect for cooking. It’s also more heat-tolerant than some other varieties.

No matter which variety you choose, make sure to select seeds or seedlings that are healthy and free from disease.

Preparing Your Soil

Swiss chard prefers loose, well-draining soil that’s rich in organic matter. Before planting, work compost or aged manure into your soil to improve its texture and fertility.

You should also test your soil’s pH level. Swiss chard grows best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil is too acidic, add lime to raise the pH level. If it’s too alkaline, add sulfur to lower it.

Planting Your Swiss Chard

In most regions, you can plant Swiss chard directly in the ground as soon as the soil can be worked in early spring. Alternatively, you can start seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost date and transplant them outside once the danger of frost has passed.

Plant your Swiss chard seeds or seedlings about 12 to 18 inches apart, with rows spaced at least 18 inches apart. Make sure to plant them shallowly—no more than ½ inch deep—and water them thoroughly immediately after planting.

Caring for Your Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is a relatively low-maintenance crop, but it does require consistent watering and fertilizing throughout the growing season. Water your plants deeply once a week, or more often during hot, dry weather. Mulching around your plants can help retain moisture in the soil.

You can fertilize your Swiss chard with a balanced fertilizer once or twice during the growing season. Be careful not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to excessive leaf growth at the expense of flavor.

Harvesting Your Swiss Chard

Your Swiss chard will be ready to harvest in about 50 to 60 days from planting. To harvest, simply cut off the outer leaves at the base of the plant, leaving the inner leaves to continue growing.

With regular harvesting, your Swiss chard will continue to produce new leaves throughout the growing season. You can even continue to harvest leaves until the first frost.

Swiss chard with red stems

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Despite its low-maintenance nature, Swiss chard can still fall victim to pests and diseases. Here are a few common problems to watch out for:

• Leaf miners: These small insects burrow into the leaves of Swiss chard, leaving distinctive trails behind. To control them, remove affected leaves and apply neem oil to the plants.
• Downy mildew: This fungal disease can cause yellowing and wilting of Swiss chard leaves. To prevent it, make sure to space your plants adequately to promote good air circulation.
• Aphids: These tiny insects can suck the sap out of Swiss chard leaves, causing them to wilt and distort. To get rid of them, spray your plants with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal soap.

Swiss chard is a fantastic addition to any vegetable garden, and it’s especially well-suited for spring planting. With a little bit of care and attention, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of this delicious and nutritious leafy green.

Swiss chard, gardening tips, vegetable garden, spring planting, leafy greens