Swiss Chard
Rainbow Chard, Red Chard, Silver Beet, Silverbeet, Mangold, Chard
Heat and cold tolerant — one of the most versatile greens. Harvest outer leaves; plant regrows for months. Direct sow 2–4 weeks before last frost or transplant. The 'seeds' are actually seed clusters — thin to 6" apart. Best for mid-spring through fall; overwinters in mild zones with protection.
- Germination
- 5–10 days
- Soil temperature
- 10–29 °C
- Harvest after sowing
- 50–60 days
- Spacing
- 25–30 cm
When to plant Swiss chard
Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost.
Dashed line: typical last spring frost in zone 7 (Apr 5). Zone dates are averages; most of the UK is zone 8–9, central Europe 6–7 and the Baltics and Scandinavia 4–6. In the app, Tomatograph uses your garden's own frost dates.
How to grow Swiss chard
- 1
Sow
Sow 1 cm deep 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Each 'seed' is a cluster of 2–4 seeds, so thin to one seedling every 23–30 cm.
- 2
Grow on
Chard handles both heat and light frost better than other leafy greens, and tolerates some shade. Water regularly for tender stems.
- 3
Second sowing
A late-summer sowing 6–8 weeks before the first autumn frost gives a crop that can last into winter in mild areas.
- 4
Harvest
Cut outer leaves from about 50 days, leaving the centre. A well-kept plant keeps producing for six months or more.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun
Water
Medium water
Temperature
4–30 °C
Frost tolerance
Frost-hardy — tolerates frost
Days to maturity
55 days
Plant spacing
30 cm
Ideal soil pH
7.5–8
How Tomatograph watches your Swiss chard
Tomatograph checks your local forecast every morning and only speaks up when one of these applies to your garden.
- First frost within 14 daysReminder to mulch the roots before winter.
- 3 days at 35 °C or aboveHeat-wave alert while plants are flowering or fruiting: shade and water early.
- Humidity above 80% for 48 hoursCheck for cercospora leaf spot, which thrives in those conditions.
- Within a week of maturityHarvest-window reminder based on when you planted.
Swiss Chard questions
- When should I plant Swiss chard?
- Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost.
- How long do Swiss chard seeds take to germinate?
- Usually 5–10 days at a soil temperature of 10–29 °C.
- How long until I can harvest Swiss chard?
- About 50–60 days after sowing, depending on variety and weather.
- How far apart should I plant Swiss chard?
- Allow 25–30 cm between plants.
- What grows well with Swiss chard?
- Good neighbours include onion, lettuce, beet, radish.
Growing guide written by Tomatograph. Planting figures from openplantdb (CC0 1.0). Zone frost dates are averages from openplantdb (CC0 1.0).