
Featured Plant of the Month: Chard!
Chard, or Beta vulgaris var. Cicla is from the Amaranthaceae household, often known as the beet household and is native to the Mediterranean space and is initially from Sicily! Fairly just a few sources say that Aristotle talked about rising chard (red-stalked) in 350 BC, in all probability as a result of it was revered for its medicinal qualities. Whether or not or not that’s true, he did have an exquisite viewpoint. Right here is one in every of my favorites: “In all issues of nature, there’s something of the marvelous.” Aristotle

Chard was launched in America by the Colonists within the 1830s because it was thought of a kind of beet grown for its greens. Robert Buist was a horticulturist who was the first promoter of chard within the Philadelphia space the place chard grew to become common. He wrote the e-book The Household Kitchen Gardener in 1847 and chard remained a “specialty” plant as late because the 1850s. It wasn’t till after the Civil Conflict that it was extra broadly cultivated.
Chard is often grown as a cool climate crop as it may possibly tolerate a light-weight frost and grows shortly, but it surely additionally does properly in the summertime warmth. Like many different leafy, inexperienced greens, chard could be very nutritious and is wealthy in nutritional vitamins A, C and Okay in addition to iron, magnesium, and protein. Additionally it is an incredible supply of fiber.
Chard is a biennial plant and can bloom small yellow flowers in its second rising season. The leaves resemble beets leaves, though they’ve giant, outstanding midribs (the 6 pack of the backyard) and a sturdy stalk. Chard prefers wealthy, well-drained soil with a considerably acidic pH of 6 to six.4. Though chard prefers 4-6 hours of solar, it can do effective in partial shade.
Forms of Chard – Is all chard Swiss chard?
Swiss chard is a kind of chard, however not all chard is Swiss chard. Chard is available in a number of varieties. Swiss chard is a kind of varieties and it’s distinguished by its giant, darkish inexperienced leaves and thick, typically brightly coloured stalks (purple, yellow, pink, or white). The time period “Swiss” was used to distinguish this chard from French spinach varieties by nineteenth-century seed catalog publishers. Nonetheless, different kinds of chard can have totally different traits. For instance, Rainbow chard is a mixture of chards with totally different coloured stalks, and Rhubarb chard has reddish leaves and stalks.
Rising Chard
Chard is a simple plant to develop and it’s lovely! Whereas some develop it for meals, others develop it as a decorative plant. You possibly can direct sow seeds exterior two-three weeks earlier than the final frost in your space, however in your Rising Dome you can begin seeds in early spring and in late summer season to your fall/winter harvest.
Plant seeds ½-¾” deep and about 2 inches aside. You’ll probably have to skinny your seedlings, but it surely’s greatest to chop some out so you don’t disturb the roots of the chard you might be protecting. Chard likes full solar and can tolerate some shade, but it surely grows amazingly within the dome; we have now some which are 3 toes tall! It loves wealthy soil with good drainage and a evenly acidic soil pH, however doesn’t thoughts a impartial soil.
We at all times advocate testing your soil so your vegetation could have what they should thrive. Chard likes moist soil, however make sure it’s not soggy! In case you haven’t perfected the finger take a look at, a moisture meter is an effective funding.
Rising Chard Enjoyable Info
- Chard is regarded as associated to the wild beet so, …”The “beet” goes on….La de da de de, la de da de da.” 🎶I do know, you’re going to take one in every of your white gloves off and inform me to “Beet it”. 😂
- Do you know that chard has a plethora of nicknames? That’s in all probability as a result of it’s so properly preferred! Chard known as silverbeet, Chilean beet, Sicilian beet (inconceivable!), spinach beet, crab beet, white beet, shiny lights (massive metropolis?), Roman kale, perpetual spinach and mangold. Whew! Chard can develop as much as 2’ tall, however that should be exterior as a result of we have now seen it taller within the Domes!
- Chard leaves have a lot superb natural matter in them that they have been utilized in Canada within the 1870s as inexperienced manure and plowed into the soil to nourish it.
- Do you know that some gardeners check with chard because the stained glass of the backyard?
Chard Companion Vegetation
Let’s speak about companion vegetation once more as a result of it’s a tremendous technique to make use of as a instrument in your backyard! Chard is an easy-going plant to develop and is pleased with quite a lot of neighbors. Listed below are among the high companion vegetation to develop with chard. Alliums akin to garlic, chives, and leeks have a robust odor that tends to repel undesirable bugs and once they flower, they appeal to helpful bugs! Marigolds, nasturtiums and candy alyssum repel pests, appeal to helpful bugs and candy alyssum acts as shade for the soil in your backyard beds and helps hold weeds at bay and so they look lovely subsequent to chard.
Chard and cabbage are superb mates together with different Brassica members. Celery and chard develop properly collectively as celery has a shallow root system and grows properly alongside chard. Bush beans and peas assist chard by fixing nitrogen within the soil, however keep away from pole beans as they supply an excessive amount of shade to your sun-loving chard.
So far as herbs, cilantro is a good friend, however the very best herb to plant close to chard is mint! Mint could be very engaging to these helpful bugs you need in your greenhouse and it may possibly assist hold flea beetles away. It’s crucial to plant mint in a pot or container and never in your backyard mattress as it can take over the entire mattress. Some vegetation to keep away from as chard companions are members of the Cucurbit household as they’re vines and would are inclined to strangle your chard (not very neighborly!). Go to the Farmers’ Almanac Companion Planting Information: Sow Straightforward to study extra.
Tips on how to Harvest Chard
Chard is usually prepared to reap in 50-60 days when it’s near 12” tall. Snap off the shiny, outer leaves and it’ll proceed to develop. It’s greatest to choose chard within the early morning or night as it may possibly wilt if harvested within the warmth of day and it’s much less bitter when the climate is cooler. Chard is crunchier than spinach and extra tender than kale so it makes an exquisite addition to a recent salad, particularly younger chard as it’s candy. Attempt grilling or roasting the stems as an alternative choice to asparagus. Additionally it is utilized in cooking and could also be blanched and frozen the identical as spinach. In case you’re rising it as a decorative in your dome tell us if it will get taller than this 5 foot tall chard in Leslie and Tommy Kearney’s dome!

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