Chard

A practical vegetable garden series

 

From clustered seeds to generous leaves and colourful stalks.

 

Written for home gardeners in Hungary

CHAPTER WELCOME

Your chard season starts here

This book follows the whole journey: seed → seedling → garden → care → harvest → kitchen → next season.

Chard is one of those generous vegetables that keeps offering leaves after you begin picking. Each seed is really a small cluster, so one little sowing may give you several seedlings. Thin them out, give the survivors a sunny or lightly shaded bed, and harvest the outside leaves while the centre keeps growing.

In Hungary, chard is best sown outdoors from April once the soil is workable, with later sowings through July for a longer harvest. It handles cool weather well, but seedlings still appreciate a settled start. Keep new plants watered while they establish, then pick outer leaves regularly. A July sowing may give autumn leaves and, with winter protection, an early crop next spring.

Our Hungarian calendar

 

 

The rule for this series: dates guide us, but the plant and the weather make the final decision.

CHAPTER 1

Meet the Chard

Chard is grown for its tender leaves and fleshy stalks, which come in green, white and bright colours.

Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) is a leafy form of beet, grown for its large leaves and thick midribs rather than a swollen root. You may also see it called Swiss chard, leaf beet or perpetual spinach. The leaves and stalks are both edible, though many cooks prepare the thicker stalks separately. White, red, pink, orange and yellow stems bring colour to the garden as well as the kitchen.

Chard or beetroot?

 

Related plants, grown for different parts

·  Chard: grown for its broad leaves and fleshy stalks.

·  Beetroot: grown mainly for its swollen, edible root.

·  Easy to sow: the large seed clusters are simple to handle, even for beginners.

·  Leaf harvest: take outer leaves and leave the centre to make more.

·  Seed cluster: each chard “seed” may produce more than one seedling.

·  Biennial plant: chard makes leaves in its first season and can flower in its second.

 

CHAPTER 2

Choose Your Chard

Choose the stem colour and leaf size you like, then decide whether you want baby leaves or full-sized plants.

Ask yourself five questions

1.         Do I have room for a sunny or lightly shaded leafy crop?

2.         Can I sow directly into the bed from spring onward?

3.         Can I thin the clustered seedlings and water them while they settle?

4.         Would I like to pick small leaves often or cook larger leaves and stalks?

5.         Can I sow again in July for a longer autumn harvest?

A beginner-friendly first planting

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3

Let’s Sow

Chard is easy to grow from seed and usually does not need an indoor start. Sow directly into prepared soil from spring to midsummer. Each seed is a cluster, so several seedlings may emerge from one place; thin them gradually to give the strongest plant room to grow.

When to sow in Hungary

For a main crop, sow chard outdoors from April through June, once the soil is workable and spring is settling. Make a shallow drill about 2.5 cm deep, water it, then place seed clusters about 10 cm apart. Cover and water gently. You can start a few plants in modules in March or April for an earlier crop, or sow again in July for autumn leaves and possible spring growth under protection.

What you need

·  Fresh chard seeds

·  A hand fork or small rake for preparing the bed

·  A watering can with a fine rose and a clear label

·  A sunny or lightly shaded growing space

·  Rich, moisture-retentive soil that drains freely

Sowing, step by step

1.         Remove weeds and loosen the soil; mix in mature compost if the bed needs it.

2.         Make a shallow drill about 2.5 cm deep and water along the bottom.

3.         Place seed clusters about 10 cm apart, then cover them lightly with soil.

4.         Label the variety and date; water gently if the soil is dry.

5.         When several seedlings appear together, thin them gradually to one strong plant.

 

 

CHAPTER 4

Seedling School

Chard seedlings are easy to recognise, but remember that one seed cluster can produce a small group of plants. Thin them so the strongest has space to grow.

Thin the little cluster

When the seedlings are a few centimetres tall, choose the strongest one in each group and remove the extras. Do this gradually if the plants are tiny, and water afterwards if the soil is dry. If you started chard in modules, keep one good seedling per cell. Handle the roots gently when transplanting.

Why are there several seedlings together?

A chard seed is a cluster rather than a single seed, so more than one shoot can grow from each sowing point. That is normal. Thin the seedlings to the spacing on the packet instead of leaving them crowded; crowded plants compete for light, water and nutrients.

Water while they settle

Keep the soil evenly moist while seedlings establish, especially in warm, dry weather. Once plants are larger, they cope with short dry spells better, but regular water supports tender, steady leaf growth. Container chard dries more quickly, so check it often in summer.

Feeding

Chard grows well in fertile soil with mature compost worked in before sowing. It usually needs little extra feeding in a prepared garden bed. If plants are in pots or the soil is poor, use a balanced vegetable feed according to its label.

 

 

CHAPTER 5

Ready for the Real World

Chard can be sown straight into its growing place. If you raised seedlings in modules, harden them off before planting outside.

Before planting: check the plants and the bed

1.         Choose healthy seedlings with several true leaves and a sturdy centre.

2.         Water the pots before planting so the root balls stay together.

3.         Harden plants off gradually in a sheltered place for about a week.

4.         Prepare a sunny bed with rich soil that holds moisture but drains freely.

5.         Plant at the same depth as in the pot; water in well.

When is it ready in Hungary?

Direct sow outdoors from April through July. In colder or exposed parts of Hungary, wait until the soil is workable and the worst spring chill has passed. For an earlier crop, raise seedlings under cover and plant them out once they are sturdy and acclimatised. A second sowing in July can keep leaves coming into autumn.

Around Győr, chard usually settles well from April onward, but a cold, wet spell can slow small seedlings. If sowing early, protect the row with fleece and check for slugs after damp weather. For a July sowing, a low tunnel or fleece can help plants continue later into the year and may protect them through a mild spell of winter.

 

 

CHAPTER 6

Give Them a Good Home

A sunny bed, fertile soil and regular moisture help chard grow a steady supply of leaves.

The right place

Choose full sun or light shade, especially where the Hungarian summer can be hot. Chard prefers fertile, moisture-retentive soil that still drains freely. Remove weeds before sowing and add mature compost if the bed needs organic matter. A little afternoon shade can help keep leaves tender in a warm spot.

Spacing

Thin plants to about 30 cm apart in rows roughly 45 cm apart. This gives each leafy plant room to spread and makes it easier to reach the outer leaves. For baby leaves, plants can be closer together and harvested young. Follow your seed packet if it gives a different spacing for the variety.

Planting day

1.         Water seedlings and prepare a moist, weed-free bed.

2.         Make a hole just large enough for the root ball.

3.         Set the plant at the same depth it grew in its pot.

4.         Firm gently and water deeply around each seedling.

5.         Add a label with the variety and planting date.

Growing in pots

Chard grows well in a large container at least 40 cm wide and deep, with drainage holes and fresh, rich potting mix. Give full-sized plants about 30 cm of space; for baby leaves, sow closer and harvest them young. Containers dry quickly in summer, so check moisture often.

 

CHAPTER 7

Water, Feed & Keep Them Growing

Chard is productive once established. Keep weeds down, water during dry spells and pick leaves often.

Watering

Water young plants regularly until they are established. Mature chard can tolerate a short dry spell, but the best leaves come when the soil does not repeatedly dry out. Water deeply during long hot spells and check containers often. A layer of mulch can help the bed hold moisture.

Mulch

Once plants are growing well, spread compost or clean straw around them to slow water loss and suppress weeds. Leave a gap around each plant base so the stalks do not stay damp and rot. Keep mulch thin or skip it for a closely sown baby-leaf crop.

Feeding

A bed prepared with mature compost usually gives chard what it needs. If growth is poor, first check moisture, light and spacing. Chard in a container may need occasional balanced liquid feed during active growth; follow the product label rather than feeding more often than advised.

Keep plants healthy

Weed while plants are small and check leaves for slugs, snails and pale winding leaf-miner trails. Remove badly damaged leaves and put a fine mesh over the crop if leaf miners are a repeated problem. If a flower stem appears in hot weather, cut it off promptly to encourage more leaves for a while.

 

CHAPTER 8

Leaves, Stalks & “What Is That?”

Chard grows a rosette of broad leaves on fleshy stalks. Changes in the leaves, stalks and centre can tell you how the plant is doing.

Why are several shoots growing together?

That is normal: one chard seed cluster can produce multiple seedlings. Thin the group to one plant so it has room to develop. If a mature plant has a flower stem, it may be responding to heat or its second year of growth. Cut the stem away for a short extra harvest, but replace the plant when it stops making good leaves.

The beginner’s trouble guide

 

 

 

CHAPTER 9

Can I Pick It Yet?

Yes—when the leaves are large enough to use, start picking the outer ones and let the centre grow on.

What “ready” looks like

You can begin picking small leaves for salads or wait until the leaves and stalks are large enough to cook. Take the oldest outer leaves first, cutting them close to the base, and leave the central growing point untouched. Chard often starts yielding from early summer and can keep producing into autumn when it has water and room.

Harvest from early summer

 

How often should I check?

Check plants once or twice a week when they are growing well. Pick a few outer leaves from each plant rather than stripping one bare. Remove damaged leaves and any flower stems that have just appeared. Regular picking makes it easier to use the crop while the leaves are tender.

 

 

CHAPTER 10

From the Garden to the Kitchen

Both the leaves and stalks are edible. Young leaves are tender, while larger leaves and ribs are delicious cooked.

The first rule: cook the stalks separately

Wash the leaves and stalks well, then trim away any damaged parts. The broad leaves cook like spinach and can go into soups, omelettes or a quick pan of greens. The thicker stalks take a little longer, so cut them into pieces and start cooking them first. Young leaves can also be added raw to salads.

Match chard to the dish

·  Young leaves: add raw to salads or sandwiches.

·  Large leaves: wilt into soups, omelettes or savoury pies.

·  Stalks: slice and cook until tender, like a mild, earthy vegetable.

·  A quick side dish: sauté leaves and stalks with garlic and olive oil.

 

Storing fresh chard

Chard is best used soon after picking. Keep unwashed leaves in a loose bag in the refrigerator and use within a few days. If you harvest more than you can cook, separate the stalks and leaves so each can be prepared in the way it needs.

When you have more than you can use

Wash the leaves, remove the thick central ribs if you prefer, and blanch briefly before cooling and freezing in portions. Cook the stalks until just tender, cool them quickly and freeze separately. Frozen chard is best for cooked dishes rather than fresh salads.

CHAPTER 11

Next Season Starts Now

Chard is a generous crop, and a few notes about sowing and picking can help you keep it productive next year.

Keep a tiny garden record

·  Variety name and seed source

·  Date seeds were sown and seedlings appeared

·  When plants were thinned or planted outdoors

·  How the leaves grew in sun or light shade

·  When the first leaves were ready to pick

·  Whether a second sowing extended the harvest

·  Which varieties and colours you enjoyed

Saving seed and planning another crop

Chard is usually grown as an annual, but it is biennial and can flower in its second year. Saving seed means leaving a healthy plant in place through winter and letting it flower the following season. Chard can cross with beetroot and other chard varieties, so seed may not come true if these are flowering nearby. For most home gardeners, buying fresh seed is simpler.

1.         Choose a healthy plant with the leaves and stalk colour you liked.

2.         Leave it unharvested and protect it through winter where conditions allow.

3.         Allow the plant to flower and form seed clusters the following year.

4.         Collect the dry seed clusters before they fall.

5.         Dry fully, label with variety and year, and store cool and dry.

 

 

COME GROW WITH ME

CHARD CHEAT SHEET

The page to come back to when you have soil on your hands and no time to reread the whole book.

 

 

 

COME GROW WITH ME • CHARD

Horticultural reference: RHS, How to grow chard. Seasonal guidance is adapted for Hungarian home gardens.