Swiss Chard — Vegetables

Beta vulgaris (Cicla)

Full sun, moderate watering — hardy anywhere in the UK.

Photograph of Swiss Chard — iNaturalist / GBIF

Sow: Apr–Jul
Plant out: May
Harvest: Aug

Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Difficulty: Easy
Hardiness: H7
Season: spring
Height: 10–50 cm
Spacing: 50 cm
Pets: Safe around pets

Grows well with

Leek — Chard between the leek rows is suggested against allium leaf miner. A trial found less damage but not reliably so, and the chard cut the leek crop by more than two thirds - it costs you more than it saves.Beetroot — Chard is listed among the poor neighbours for beetroot. The two are close relatives with the same demands, so grow them in separate rows.

Growing notes

Grows to 0.1-0.5 metres. Space about 10-50cm apart. At its best in spring.