Swiss Chard

Ease of Growing  [Scale 1-5] - 1 (Easy)

How Time Consuming

Very little at all after planting apart from watering.

Recommended Varieties

• ‘Bright Lights’ AGM – very colourful mixture of reliable varieties. Harvest as baby leaves for salads.
• ‘Rhubarb Chard’ AGM – High yields from this striking red leaf stalks.

Home Grown Vs Supermarket

Always fresher to grow your own, plus you have the advantage of seeing the colourful leaves growing in your vegetable plot.

Best Sites and Soils   

Prefers an open sunny site on fertile soil but will tolerate some shade in summer.  Will be in the ground over a long period so it is important to improve the soil before planting.

When to sow

Either in late spring for a summer and autumn crop or late summer for a winter crop.
Distance between rows - 30cm (12”) apart
Distance between plants - 45cm (18”) apart

When to harvest

Harvest regularly when leaves are at the required size from 10 weeks after sowing.