Thread: swiss chard
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Old 14-04-2012, 12:51 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
David Hare-Scott[_2_] David Hare-Scott[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Sep 2008
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Default swiss chard

songbird wrote:
did the Swiss invent it or did they just get
lucky and grab the name first?


WikiP says its Mediterranean and "Swiss" is to distinguish from French.
Does anybody have "French chard"?

we'll see how it goes here, i planted three
areas today with the Burpee Neon Mix. two outside
the fenced garden and a backup patch inside the
fenced garden.

the package says "average soil" which around
here the average would be hard as a rock right
now and mostly clay. i don't think they mean
that! however, two patches are in the
lighter soil space i have and the backup patch
is also amended lighter soil too. so i don't
think i've erred, until the bunnies find them
delicious.


It's pretty hardy and flexible, not fussy really. It will self-seed and
grow in all sorts of places.

Ma asked me what it was like and i said,
"Yummy, like beets, but greener!" this mix
is four colors, so i will be curious as to how
they do here. i've always loved it, always
wanted to grow some, but until now we've not
had the space in the fenced garden for a plant
like this, but now it's in. i'm looking
forwards to learning yet another thing this
year.


You will be faced with one of life's turning points. To eat the stalks or
not. If you choose yes then cook the stalks separately from the leaves
otherwise the one will be underdone and the other overdone. The key is to
pick them while the leaves are tender and not too strong in flavour. The
leaves can be allowed to grow to full size (or nearly) but regular cutting
keeps them producing.


i think they will be a good refuge type plant
for the good bugs.


And snails and slugs

should be in the full sun or close to it.
shaded a little right now by flowers and some
trefoil, but i can trim that back if it looks
to be taking over.


If they get at least some sun they will grow but they are best in full sun.

let grow untouched first year and harvest
next year?


No. Harvest according to the vigour of the plant. Cut from the outside and
always leave a few healthy leaves in the centre to carry on. Once they are
going well you may be able to cut quite frequently and still have them
prosper.

harvest a little this year after
they get a few big leaves?


Harvest as soon as they have enough leaves.

are these biannual
like beets?


Yes. They ARE beets!

says the seeds want even moisture
for sprouting, that might be a challenge in
sandier soil.


You can start them in trays, they transplant quite well.

how hardy are they when it gets hot
and dry?


They will do better than many leafy veges like lettuce but try to keep them
watered or they will wilt in the afternoon.

do they get deep tap roots?

Yes

flower
second season?


Yes. When the flower stalk comes up you can cut all the baby leaves along
its sides which will be very tender and mild

spread by root division?

No only seed.

David