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Growing Chard

Growing your own Swiss Chard

Description: Chard is also known as swiss chard and is a leaf vegetable. Chard is very popular in the Mediterranean countries and a very colourful vegetable to have in the kitchen garden. The young and tender leaves can be picked and so can the mature leaves and the stem can be eaten. Chard has a very short life in a refrigerator only 2-3 days. The leaves can be treated like spinach to cook.

What month do I sow?: April – May

What variety to choose?:
The most popular is ‘Bright Lights’ which is a mixed colour stems but mostly red. It is very easy to grow.

What growing conditions does chard like?: Chard likes ordinary garden soil in sun or partial shade.

Instructions:

1. Refer to your own seed packet or take these instructions as a guide only.
2. With your trowel or dibber, draw a row or line in the raised bed soil that is no more than 2.5cm or 1 inch deep.
3. Sow thinly so they have enough room to establish.
4. Then keep moist.
5. When the seedlings have two or more leaves thin them to 5cm for small leaves and 10cm apart for larger leaves.
6. Water well until established.

Tips on Growing: Keep well watered to prevent young plants from bolting in warm weather.
Approx No of Weeks til Harvest: 12 weeks.
How to Harvest: Pull off individual leaves as required.

Completed Project Picture:

Swiss Chard Seedlings

Slide Show:

Other How To Guides you may be interested in:

• Growing Carrots.
• Growing Spring Onions.