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| Young 'Bright Lights' plants in the garden. |
Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla in the Family Chenopodiaceae) is a type of beet that does not produce an edible root. Also know as silverbeet (mainly in New Zealand and Australia), chard is a biennial plant grown as an annual for its rosette of big crinkly leaves and/or wide crunchy stems. The leaves are very similar to beet greens, but have prominent, enlarged midribs and are borne on stout petioles. Chard is also a decorative plant that can be used as an ornamental in the flower garden.
Native to the Mediterranean, it was a popular food even before the days of the Roman Empire. It was
once grown exclusively to be eaten at Christmas in the south of France, and constituted the highlight of the Christmas Eve meal. Only the petioles, with a flavor reminiscent of artichoke hearts, were eaten.Chard prefers cool temperatures, as high temperatures slow down leaf production, but it tolerates heat better than spinach does.
There are only a few types of Swiss chard available. The main differences are petiole and leaf color. Petiole and midrib colors vary from white to yellow, orange, red or green, while leaves may be green, bronze or purple.
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Bright Lights is a 1998 All-American Selection improved for its stem colors. The petioles can be white, yellow, gold, orange, pink, red or striped. This variety is excellent as an ornamental. 55 days to maturity. |
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Fordhook Giant has broad, thick white midribs and petioles, with heavily crinkled, dark green leaves. The plants grow 24-28 inches tall and mature in |
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Lucullus is an older variety that produces very broad and thick, white or pale green petioles. The leaves are dark green and crumpled. It is an excellent variety for freezing that matures in 55 days. |
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Rhubarb produces crumpled, dark green leaves with deep red veins. The petioles are bright crimson red and slightly flattened. This attractive 20- to 24-inch plant matures in 60 days and is also nice as an ornamental. (Don't confuse this variety with a real rhubarb plant – that plant has poisonous leaves.) |
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Silverado is a compact green variety that only grows 14-16" tall. chard which may be harvested for individual stems or harvested as a whole plant. The broad white stems and crumpled, glossy dark green leaves can be harvested individually or as a whole plant. The compact and attractive plants mature in 60 - 65 days. |
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| Swiss chard seedlings look very much like beet seedlings. |
Swiss chard grows well regardless of soil type, daylength or temperature. You can plant chard from seed (actually seed clusters which contain several seeds), about a month before the average date of last frost through midsummer. You can also start plants indoors to transplant out later, but I've always had success with direct seeding early in the spring.
Chard tolerates partial shade and likes fertile, well-worded soil with good drainage and high organic content. Plant the seeds an inch deep and 4-6" apart. Thin to about a foot apart when the plants are easy to handle (I wait until they are about 6-8" and harvest the small plants to eat, leaving one plant every 12"). Thinning isn't as important as with beets, though. If chard plants are crowded they will just produce smaller leaves, but more of them. Remove any plants that bolt.
Provide average fertilizer and moisture. Although the plants will tolerate some drying, they produce best when the soil is kept evenly moist.
Swiss chard does not have many insect or disease problems. Aphids and spinach leafminer occasionally infest chard, and there are no serious disease problems. Aphid infestations can be removed by hosing off the plants, using insecticidal soap, or waiting for natural enemies such as ladybeetles, green lacewing larvae, or syrphid fly larvae to eat them. Leafminers feed internally in the leaves, so any leaves with mines should just be removed and discarded. For more on the spinach leafminer, see the article on Spinach. The wild host, lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), grows very commonly around and in gardens and is quite susceptible to leafminer attack, so flies may continue to move in from infested weeds in nearby areas.
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| Swiss chard can be harvested when the leaves reach about 3" long. |
You can start harvesting the leaves when they are about 3" long (about 4 weeks after planting) and remove a few leaves at a time for a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. Or you can wait until the plant is more mature, to cut all the leaves off as a bunch at about 3" above the soil surface and let it grow back. The time from planting to bunch harvesting varies by variety, but is generally about 2 months.
Leaves are best when just fully expanded or slightly earlier. Harvest Swiss chard early or late in the day, since the leaves wilt quickly when picked on a warm day in full sun. Break or cut off individual outer leaves near base of plant, being careful not to damage the inner leaves or growing points.
The leaves may turn somewhat bitter in mid-summer. But if you continue to remove the older leaves the plant will produce more leaves that will be less bitter as the weather cools. Swiss chard is quite cold tolerant and will continue to grow in the garden through frosts until temperatures drop to the mid-20's. A cold frame usually ensures fresh chard well into December in southern Wisconsin.
Chard can be stored (unwashed) for one to two weeks in the refrigerator. It is best fresh, but can also be frozen, dried or canned.
Serving SuggestionsYoung chard leaves have a sweet taste like spinach, so chard is often used like spinach. Use the small leaves in salads and larger, older leaves cooked. The older leaves are a good substitute for cooked spinach in various recipes.
The fleshy petioles, separated from the leaf blade, can be prepared like celery or asparagus. If you're cooking the stalks and leaves together, add the stalks about 5 minutes before the leaves so both will be tender at the end of the cooking time.
The following are my favorite ways for using Swiss chard:
Braised Chard |
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1 onion, diced 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter 2 Tbsp pine nuts 1 large bunch Swiss chard, washed and cut into large shreds Balsamic vinegar |
| Saute the onion in the oil over medium heat. Add the pine nuts when the onions are barely limp. When the onion is cooked, add the chard and cook until wilted. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar (to taste) and serve immediately. |
Chicken Soup with White Beans and Swiss Chard |
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2 cans chicken noodle soup (I use one can Progresso ready-to-eat and one can Campbell's
condensed) 1/2 can cannellini or other cooked white beans 10 Swiss chard leaves, washed and cut into large shreds |
| Pour the soup into a saucepan, adding water if appropriate. Add the beans and cook over medium heat until near boiling. Add the chard and stir until the leaves wilt. |
– Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin
