Growing Luscious Swiss Chard in Raised Beds

Swiss chard is a colorful, healthy, and tasty leafy green that is easy to grow in raised garden beds. With its vibrant stems in hues of red, pink, yellow, and white, Swiss chard adds beauty wherever it’s planted. This nutritious superfood is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to grow a bountiful harvest of Swiss chard in raised beds.

An Overview of Swiss Chard

Also known as leaf beet, silverbeet, crab beet, perpetual spinach, and sea kale beet, Swiss chard goes by many names but remains a reliable edible for home gardens. While often thought to originate in Switzerland, this vegetable actually comes from the Mediterranean region.

Swiss chard has been cultivated for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans grew it for food and medicine. The bright coloring in the stems comes from special pigments called betalains, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits

Today, we grow Swiss chard for its ornamental appeal and superfood status. The leafy greens and crunchy stalks add color and nutrition to salads sandwiches sautés, and more.

Why Grow Swiss Chard in Raised Beds

Raised garden beds provide the ideal growing environment for Swiss chard. Here are some key advantages

• Improved drainage and aeration – Chard needs well-draining, loamy soil. Raised beds prevent soggy roots.

• Loose, nutrient-rich soil – Filled with quality potting mix, raised beds allow you to control the soil composition.

• Easier maintenance – Higher beds reduce bending for planting, weeding, and harvesting.

• Warmer spring soil – Raised beds heat up quicker, allowing earlier spring planting.

• Pest protection – Slugs, snails, and burrowing critters are deterred by raised beds.

• Higher yields – More plants can be grown per square foot compared to traditional gardens.

For best results, build or purchase a raised bed that’s at least 12 inches deep. Fill it with a high-quality potting mix amended with compost or manure. Place it in full sun (minimum 6 hours) with good drainage.

When and How to Plant Chard

One benefit of raised beds is the ability to plant earlier because the soil warms faster. For spring, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost. Harden off transplants and plant them outside 2-3 weeks before the frost date.

For fall harvests, directly sow seeds 10-12 weeks prior to the first autumn frost. Follow these steps when planting:

• Moisten soil and mix in 1-2 inches of compost or fertilizer.

• Sow seeds 1⁄2 inch deep, 12 inches apart in rows spaced 18 inches apart.

• Cover seeds lightly with soil and water gently.

• Thin seedlings to 12-18 inches when they reach 3-4 inches tall.

• Use row covers if frost threatens newly emerged plants.

Swiss chard grows best in cool weather. Provide shade in hot summers and plant in late summer for fall harvests. In zone 10 or warmer, Swiss chard grows year-round.

Growing Swiss Chard to Maturity

With proper care, your Swiss chard will produce an abundance of leaves throughout the season. Here are some growing tips:

• Water 1-2 inches per week. Chard needs consistent moisture.

• Fertilize every 3-4 weeks with compost or organic fertilizer.

• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

• Prune away any diseased or yellow leaves promptly.

• Pull surrounding weeds to prevent pest habitat.

• Add a trellis for support if plants become floppy.

• Use row covers if temperatures drop below 20°F.

• In hot climates, provide afternoon shade with cloth.

• Harvest outer leaves regularly, allowing inner leaves to continue growing.

Avoiding Problems in Raised Beds

Raised beds help avoid several issues that can plague Swiss chard. Here’s how they set up your plants for success:

• Improved drainage prevents fungal diseases.

• Loose, nutrient-rich soil prevents stunted growth.

• Higher elevation deters crawling pests.

• Warmer spring soil prevents premature bolting.

• Constant moisture prevents bitter leaves.

Still watch for pests like aphids, leaf miners, and slugs. Also look for diseases like Cercospora leaf spot, damping off, mildews, and viruses. Control problems right away to keep your Swiss chard thriving.

Harvesting and Enjoying Swiss Chard

You can begin harvesting Swiss chard leaves in as soon as 50 days after planting. Use a sharp knife to cut outer leaves near the base, leaving smaller inner leaves to continue growing.

Pick leaves as needed, avoiding overharvesting any one plant. For baby greens, snip inner leaves when just 3-5 inches tall. They have the sweetest flavor.

Store harvested leaves in plastic bags in the fridge for 3-5 days. To prepare, strip leaves from stems. Add raw leaves to salads or cook leaves and stems in your favorite recipes.

With multiple weekly harvests possible per plant, just a few Swiss chard plants provide a long season of productivity in your raised beds.

Growing Gorgeous Swiss Chard in Raised Beds

Known for being easy to grow, Swiss chard is a great veggie for beginners. Given the ideal conditions found in raised garden beds, this colorful leafy green will flourish, providing a steady supply of nutritious greens and crunchy stalks for your kitchen.