Growing swiss chard indoors from seed is an easy way to get a head start on your gardening season. By starting the seeds indoors, you can transplant mature seedlings out into your garden a few weeks before the last expected frost date. This gives your chard plants extra time to grow and produce delicious leaves and stems earlier in the summer.
When to Start Swiss Chard Seeds Indoors
For most areas, you’ll want to start your swiss chard seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your expected last spring frost date. Check your local frost date and count backwards from there.
Chard is hardy and can withstand cooler temperatures so you don’t need to start seeds too far in advance. Waiting until about a month before transplanting is perfect timing.
Choosing a Container for Swiss Chard Seeds
You can use any small containers to start your swiss chard seeds Options include
- Seed starting trays or flats
- Peat or paper pots
- Yogurt cups or other household containers
Make sure your containers have drainage holes in the bottom so the seedlings don’t get overwatered
Aim for containers that are at least 2 inches deep and 2-3 inches wide for each individual seedling. This gives the roots ample room to develop before transplanting.
How to Plant the Seeds
Planting swiss chard seeds indoors is simple:
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Fill your containers with a good quality seed starting mix. This provides drainage and nutrients for young seedlings.
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Sow 2-3 seeds in each individual container or section of a seed starting tray. Place the seeds about 1/4 inch deep.
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Gently water the seed starting mix until moist but not saturated.
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Place the planted containers in a warm spot (around 70°F) until germination.
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Once sprouted, move seedlings under grow lights or the sunniest window available. Rotate the containers periodically so the seedlings grow straight.
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Thin down to 1 strong seedling per container once the first true leaves appear.
Caring for Seedlings Indoors
Caring for your baby swiss chard plants involves:
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Watering when the top of the soil looks dry. Avoid overwatering.
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Providing ample sunlight – at least 14 hours under lights or a very sunny window.
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Light weekly feeding with diluted liquid fertilizer once true leaves appear.
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Maintaining temperatures between 60-75°F for optimal growth.
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Circulating air daily to strengthen stems.
Pay close attention to your seedlings and make any adjustments to moisture, light or temperature if they show signs of stress.
When to Transplant Swiss Chard Outdoors
Once your swiss chard seedlings have 4-6 true leaves, they are ready for transplanting outdoors!
Aim to transplant them 2-4 weeks before your expected last spring frost. Here are a few signs seedlings are ready:
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6 inches or taller in height
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Thick stem at the base of the plant
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Well developed root system with roots filling the container
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4-6 true leaves
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No longer fitting well in original container
How to Transplant Swiss Chard into the Garden
Transplanting chard into the garden is easy:
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Harden off plants by setting them outdoors in partial shade for a few hours over a week. Gradually increase time outside.
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Water soil well in advance of transplanting.
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Dig holes for each plant, spacing 12-15 inches apart in all directions.
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Gently remove from containers, being careful not to disturb roots.
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Place in holes, filling with soil to cover roots and pack firmly.
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Water transplants well.
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Provide shade for a few days until they recover from transplant shock.
That’s all there is to planting swiss chard seeds indoors for an early harvest! With this simple process, you’ll have homegrown greens ready to start harvesting 4-6 weeks sooner than sowing directly in the garden.
When Swiss Chard Grows Best
Swiss chard plants do best when it’s cool, so plant them in early spring or late summer, as soon as the ground can be worked. As long as they get enough water, established plants can usually make it through the summer, even though it’s not the best time for them to grow. If you’re growing in a container, you may need to water them every day during the hottest months. If it’s really hot in the afternoon, move your pot to a shady spot or put shade cloth over your garden to cool the soil down a bit.
Once it starts getting colder, a little touch of frost will actually make your chard leaves taste sweeter. Because their leaves are savoyed, which is another word for crinkled, these leafy greens can handle light to moderate frosts. A hard frost without protection, however, will kill them. If you live somewhere with mild winters, your Swiss chard will likely continue producing leaves all winter long.
The coolest thing about Swiss chard is that it can live for up to two years before it goes to seed. Biennials are very driven to stay alive until it’s time for them to make new things for the future. This is why your Swiss chard plant will hang in there throughout harsh winters and hot summers. Two-year plants, like kale and Swiss chard, are some of the toughest little plants I’ve found for the garden.
You’ll be amazed when you see these seeds if you’ve never grown Swiss chard before or if you’ve always bought plant starts from the nursery. They look and feel like something almost prehistoric. The good news is that they’re pretty big for seeds, especially for leafy greens that usually have the tiniest seeds. I mean, you could fit like 10 lettuce seeds in each Swiss chard seed.
One thing to keep in mind is that Swiss chard and other plants in the Amaranthaceae family often have seeds that can grow into more than one plant. That means theyre actually little clusters of several embryos, or future plants. For every one Swiss chard seed you plant, you could potentially get a couple little seedlings popping up. Youll just thin all but one when the plants are about 2″ tall.
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How to Grow Swiss Chard from Seed in Containers and Garden Beds | Easy Planting Guide
FAQ
Should I soak Swiss chard seeds before planting?
Can you start Swiss chard seeds indoors?
How to plant Swiss chard seed?
How many Swiss chard seeds per hole?
How do you grow Swiss chard?
Plant your Swiss chard seeds at a depth of ½ inch (1 cm) in rich, loosened, moist soil. If you’re starting your seeds indoors, plant the seeds in a flat bed of individual seed plugs with two to three seeds in each plug. Once the seeds have sprouted, thin them to one seedling per plug. Transplant them out when they’re 2 to 3 inches (5-8 cm.) tall.
Can you plant Swiss chard seeds indoors?
You can start Swiss chard seeds indoors under grow lights, purchase transplants at a garden nursery, or direct sow seeds in the garden. Starting seeds indoors under lights will provide you with an earlier harvest. Sow seeds indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. Swiss chard seeds are actually a seedpod that contains several seeds.
Do Swiss chard seeds germinate in cold soil?
Swiss chard seeds are special in that they can germinate in relatively cold soil, as low as 50 degrees F. (10 C.). Swiss chard plants are somewhat frost hardy, so the seeds can be sown outside directly in the soil about two weeks before the average last frost date of spring.
Can Swiss chard grow in a pot?
Swiss chard thrives in containers and is attractive when combined with colorful annuals. It needs at least a 12-inch wide and deep container. A 10-gallon pot has room to grow two plants. All containers need holes to provide good drainage. Fill the container with commercial potting soil formulated for vegetables and add compost or organic matter.
How long does Swiss chard take to grow?
Plant the Swiss chard seeds about an inch deep and spaced 8-10 inches apart. Keep the soil moist, not wet, and the seeds will germinate in 10–14 days. Position the container in an area that receives full sun at least six hours daily. This biennial doesn’t require repotting. Begin harvesting Swiss chard when the leaves are about 6 inches long.
When should I plant Swiss chard?
Swiss chard thrives in cool temperatures and can be sown directly in the garden from two to three weeks before the last expected spring frost through mid-summer. Start the seeds indoors under lights for an earlier harvest. Be sure to harden off the seedlings before you plant them in the garden.