best time to plant swiss chard seeds Organic Swiss Chard Seeds — 'Rainbow Mix' – Back to the Roots

best time to plant swiss chard seeds Organic Swiss Chard Seeds — 'Rainbow Mix' – Back to the RootsOverview Easy to grow and adaptable to both summer heat and colder fall conditions, this vibrant seed blend offers a stunning variety of Swiss Chard with strikingly colored stems that range from deep crimson and vibrant pink to golden yellow and even white. These nutritious leafy greens boast a delightful mix of flavors, from mild and slightly sweet to more assertive and slightly bitter, making them perfect for zesty salads, steamed or sauted greens.

Overview

Easy to grow and adaptable to both summer heat and colder fall conditions, this vibrant seed blend offers a stunning variety of Swiss Chard with strikingly colored stems that range from deep crimson and vibrant pink to golden yellow and even white. These nutritious leafy greens boast a delightful mix of flavors, from mild and slightly sweet to more assertive and slightly bitter, making them perfect for zesty salads, steamed or sautéed greens. Rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B6, Swiss Chard also provides a wealth of minerals, including calcium, zinc, and iron.

Swiss Chard Rainbow Blend

• Ruby Red
• Fordhook Giant
• Oriole
• Canary
• Flamingo

Conditions

For soil, use a fertile well-draining potting mix that’s tailored for vegetables. Cool and mild weather is preferred, though chard has some heat tolerance. Seedlings will tolerate light frosts, and mature plants are hardy to moderate frosts. For the best quality leaves, provide full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight). 

Planting

Swiss chard can be planted directly in the garden, or it can be started indoors and later transplanted. Use our grow calendar tool to find specific planting dates for your region! Seeds germinate in 7-14 days. 

For planting outdoors, plant seeds in rows approximately 6 seeds per foot, thinning to 4-6" apart for full size plants. For transplanting, plant seeds indoors in containers ~5-6 weeks before transplanting after heavy frosts become infrequent. Transplant 4-6" apart in rows 12–18" apart.

For baby leaf growth, plant about 40 seeds per foot in dense 2-4" bands. Do not thin. 

Harvest

When plants are 6-8” tall, you can begin harvesting. Use the “cut-and-come-again” harvesting technique, taking the largest, oldest leaves and leaving the young ones to continue growing.

You can cut the ribs off the chard leaves and cook them like asparagus. The rest of the leaves are eaten as greens. You can cook them like spinach or eat them raw.

For baby leaves, clip young plants just above the soil. Multiple harvests are possible because the plants will grow new stems and leaves.