"Gary" wrote in message ...
For the past few years, I have not had good luck with my beets and swiss
chard (red variety). The leaves seem to turn brown when they get to be
about 4" long, and the plants do not thrive well. Sometimes about half of
the leaf on each stem shrivels up to nothing. I've tried planting in
different parts of the garden (which is partly shaded), added manure, etc.
The soil is relatively good in my garden and the spinach and lettuce do
well. I water by sprinkling, but I do it after the sun is down, so I don't
think it is sunburn. Also the garden is pretty well protected from wind. I
live in Western Colorado, where the soil tends to be a little alkaline.
Any help/advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gary

Gary, this is probably not the soil, because both like it around pH 7
(so do spinach and lettuce). However, both shade and sprinkling are
less well tolerated by chard and beet than by spinach and lettuce.
They need more sunlight, and in my case, they develop rot on the
leaves when the summer gets humid (I water under the plants with a
hose, and never touch the plants, but they still get it). Suggest you
try to grow them in the sunniest spot you have away from sprinklers.
Keep in mind that their roots go down six feet when the plant is
mature (unless you have hardpan). Infrequent, deep watering plus mulch
will get them going. It is not too late to start a new batch, in fact
you have plenty of time.