Growing Chard (Swiss Chard) on an Allotment

Chard (often called Swiss chard) is one of the most reliable and versatile leafy crops you can grow on an allotment. It’s attractive, productive, tolerant of cold and heat, and can be harvested for months using cut-and-come-again methods. Unlike spinach, chard is slow to bolt and keeps cropping through summer and into winter.

This guide covers how to grow chard from seed and plug plants, when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, container vs ground growing, and proven ways to improve yields.

🌱 1. Types of Chard You Can Grow

🌈 Rainbow Chard

• Colourful red, yellow, pink and orange stems

• Same flavour as white-stemmed chard

• Highly ornamental

🥬 White-Stemmed Chard

• Thick white ribs

• Slightly stronger flavour

• Excellent cooking green

(All types are grown the same way.)

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Chard

From Seed (Most Common)

Chard seeds are actually clusters, often producing more than one seedling.

Pros

• Cheap and reliable

• Easy to sow

• Strong root systems

Cons

• Needs thinning

Plug Plants

Young chard plants grown in modules.

Pros

• Faster establishment

• Less thinning required

• Useful for late sowings

Cons

• More expensive

• Limited variety choice

👉 Both methods work well — consistent moisture is the key factor.

🗓️ 3. When to Sow & Plant Chard

From Seed

• Sow outdoors: April–July

• Earlier sowing: March (under cover)

• Overwintering: Late summer sowings crop the following spring

Plug Plants

• Plant out: April–August

Chard tolerates light frost and often survives winter.

🌾 4. How to Grow Chard in the Ground

Soil & Position

• Fertile, moisture-retentive soil

• Sunny or partial shade

• Plenty of compost before planting

Chard is forgiving but performs best in rich soil.

Spacing

• Between plants: 30–40cm

• Between rows: 40cm

Crowded plants produce:

• smaller leaves

• thinner stems

• more disease

Sowing Depth

• Sow 2–3cm deep

• Thin to one strong plant per cluster

🪴 5. Growing Chard in Containers

Chard grows extremely well in containers.

Container Guidelines

• Minimum depth: 25–30cm

• One plant per 8–10L of compost

• Use moisture-retentive compost

Containers need regular watering, especially in summer.

💧 6. Watering Chard

Chard is shallow-rooted and needs steady moisture.

Best Practice

• Water deeply in dry spells

• Keep soil consistently moist

• Mulch to retain water

Dry stress leads to:

• tough leaves

• slow regrowth

• bitter flavour

🌿 7. Feeding Chard

Chard is a moderate feeder.

Feeding Schedule

• Compost before planting

• Light liquid feed every 2–3 weeks once harvesting starts

• Avoid excessive nitrogen

Regular feeding keeps leaves large and tender.

🐛 8. Common Pests & Diseases

Slugs & Snails

• Damage young plants and new leaves

Control

• Protect seedlings early

• Clear debris

Aphids

• Cluster on new growth

Wash off with water or pinch out affected tips.

Leaf Spot / Downy Mildew

• Brown or yellow spots

Prevention

• Good spacing

• Avoid overhead watering

• Remove affected leaves

✂️ 9. Harvesting Chard (Key to High Yields)

Cut-and-Come-Again Method

• Pick outer leaves first

• Leave centre growing point intact

• Harvest every 7–14 days

Regular harvesting:

• boosts regrowth

• extends cropping season

• improves flavour

🌾 10. Improving Chard Yields

• Keep soil moist

• Feed lightly but regularly

• Harvest often

• Mulch to retain moisture

• Protect young plants

Well-grown chard can crop for 8–10 months.

⚡ Quick Chard Growing Tips

• Thin seedlings carefully

• Young leaves are best for salads

• Older leaves suit cooking

• Autumn sowings overwinter well

• Chard rarely bolts

🧠 Key Chard Principles

• Moist soil = tender leaves

• Regular harvesting increases yield

• Spacing improves stem size

• One sowing feeds you for months

Photo by Jaz Blakeston-Petch on Unsplash