New stems and leaves will replace the harvested material. Swiss chard is one of the wonderful foods you can plant in early spring for a summer harvest or in early summer for a late season crop. Keep weed invaders out of the beds. Planting too early can increase the risk of bolting to seed. Mulching around the plants can help prevent weeds, conserve moisture, and protect roots in case of an early light freeze. The best time for Swiss chard fall planting is July 15 through August 15. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Preparing the garden bed is key to good harvests. Swiss chard may be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator. The best time for Swiss chard fall planting is July 15 through August 15. The exact time will depend on your zone. The exact time will depend on your zone. Then cool and dry the result, lay it out on a cookie sheet, and freeze. For example, growing Swiss chard in autumn allows you to get a final harvest since it is a cool season plant. Are you at a loss for when to plant your vegetables? You can start chard indoors five or six weeks before the last expected frost. per week at the seedling stage. Keep the beds modestly moist and watch out for pests. This planting calendar provides a monthly planting and harvesting plan for more than 200 garden vegetables in 10 different USDA hardiness growing zones. And while many crops can not stand the heat of a Zone 9 Summer, one that can is Swiss Chard. Here is how: (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}), Green Beans (Phaselous Vulgaris), also know as String Beans are one of the most popular crops to grow in the home garden. What is a Plant Hardiness Zone. Swiss Chard Care – How To Grow Swiss Chard In Your Garden, Swiss Chard Spring Planting: When To Plant Chard In Spring, Swiss Chard Care In Pots – How To Grow Swiss Chard In Containers, Prickly Kale Leaves – Does Kale Have Thorns, Corn Husk Wreath Ideas: How To Make A Corn Husk Wreath, DIY Air Plant Wreaths: Wreath Making With Air Plants, False Dandelion Info – Is Cat’s Ear A Weed Or Suitable For Gardens, What Is Carolina Geranium – Tips On Growing Carolina Cranesbill, No Flowers On Lemon Tree – Tips For Getting Lemon Trees To Bloom, Types Of Pots For Orchids – Are There Special Containers For Orchid Plants, Thanksgiving Tradition: Turning Homegrown Pumpkins Into Pie, Growing Thanksgiving Dinner – Must Have Turkey Side Dishes, Interesting Uses For Pecans: What To Do With Pecans, The Bountiful Garden: Bringing The Garden To Thanksgiving. Transfer to freezer bags and steam when ready to eat. It tastes its best when the mature plant experiences some cold nights and may develop bitterness when grown in warm months. Space seeds or transplants 6 inches apart (15 cm.) The whole idea is to get those tender spears before the plant tries to set seed; otherwise, the stems and leaves will be bitter. First and last frost days may vary by 2 weeks (or more depending on the weather). Plant chard seeds 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost date. You could even plant these as ornamentals in your front yard! It is also a fairly rapidly maturing crop that is ready for harvest in about 50 to 75 days from planting. They are highly prolific and can be easily preserved for later consumption by, Basil originates from warm climates and grows very well whenever the temperatures stay above the frost level. The zones change by 10-degree Fahrenheit differences in average minimum temperatures. A week before winter/spring crops are harvested start hardening off the swiss chard plants by placing them outside for a few hours each day in direct sunlight (each day add and additional hour) Once all winter/spring crops have been harvest replace them with the swiss chard in a season if they get enough water! Areas that expect early freezes should plant earlier and use a hoop house to give the developing plants some shade and keep them from bolting. When you are ready to harvest the whole plant, cut off stems to within 2 inches (5 cm) of soil.