Growing· 6 weeks
Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla
Bright Lights. Outer stems only. Cook the stalks. Same family as beetroot.
How to sow
Sow 2 cm; each seed is a cluster. Use peat-free coco. Keep the surface just moist.
Germination 7–14 days in the crop record.
Growing
- Sowing — Day 0. Sow 2 cm deep. Keep moist. Soak overnight if you want them quicker.
- Seedling — Weeks 2–4. One plant per cluster. Eat the thinnings.
- First harvest — Week 6. Leave the heart. Cook the stalks. Harvest weekly.
Keep at or above 7°C where the crop record sets a floor.
Harvest
First cut around 6 weeks.
Leave the heart. Cook the stalks. Harvest weekly.
Common mistakes
- Cutting the heart — Take the centre and you have one harvest. Outer stems only. The middle is next week's crop.
- Throwing the stems — Bright Lights is a stem variety. The leaf is half the dish. Cook stems first, leaves second.
- A tiny pot — Chard is a beet. It wants depth and a drink. 1.5 L or more. Same family as beetroot.
In the kitchen
- Wilted greens — Stems first in oil and garlic, two minutes, then the leaves until just collapsed. Lemon at the end.
- Stem as a vegetable — Slice the coloured stems, sweat like celery. Do not throw them.
- Frittata — Chop leaves and stems into eggs with feta.
- Young leaf salad — Baby leaves raw, dressed simply. Mature leaves want heat.
- Gratin — Blanched stems under cheese and crumbs. The colour holds.
Questions
How long to grow swiss chard from seed?
First cut around 6 weeks.
How do I sow swiss chard?
2 cm; each seed is a cluster. Use peat-free medium. Keep the surface just moist.
How do I harvest swiss chard?
Leave the heart. Cook the stalks. Harvest weekly.