How to Sow and Grow Chard

If you’re not growing chard yet, you’re missing out on one of the most stunning, low-maintenance, and downright delicious leafy greens you can plant in your garden. This heirloom crop has been around for centuries, offering both beauty and utility with its rainbow-coloured stems and nutrient-packed leaves. Whether you’re after a pop of colour in your veg patch or a hardy staple that will keep on giving, chard is your new best friend.

Sowing Chard:

Chard is surprisingly easy to grow from seed. It thrives in cooler temperatures, making it a fantastic option for early spring and autumn sowings. If you’re in a milder part of the UK, you can even overwinter it for an early spring harvest.

• Direct sowing – If the soil is workable, you can sow chard directly outdoors from March onwards. Sow seeds about 2cm deep and 10-15cm apart, in rows spaced 30cm apart.
• Starting indoors – If you want to get a head start, sow seeds in modules indoors from late winter. Once the seedlings have a couple of true leaves, they can be hardened off and planted out when the risk of hard frost has passed.
• Succession sowing – To keep the harvest going, sow a fresh batch every few weeks through spring and summer.

Growing Chard: 

Chard is as unfussy as they come, but a little TLC will give you the biggest, healthiest plants.

• Soil & Position – Chard loves rich, well-draining soil and will thrive in full sun or partial shade. It’s quite adaptable, but if you want a continuous supply of lush leaves, mix in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
• Watering – Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A mulch layer will help retain moisture and keep the weeds down.
• Feeding – While chard doesn’t need much feeding, an occasional liquid feed of seaweed or comfrey tea will keep the plants in top form.

Harvesting Chard:

One of the best things about chard is its ability to keep producing for months on end. Instead of harvesting the whole plant, simply cut the outer leaves at the base, and the plant will keep pushing out fresh growth. You can start picking leaves when they’re young and tender for salads, or wait until they’re larger for steaming, stir-frying, or adding to soups.

If you’ve chosen a colourful heirloom variety like our signature  ‘Peppermint’ or ‘Sunset’, harvesting is an absolute joy – those jewel-toned stems in red, pink, yellow, and orange make any dish look like a work of art!

Overwintering Chard:

Chard is a biennial, meaning it will flower in its second year, but if you plant in late summer or early autumn, it can soldier on through winter, providing fresh greens when little else is growing. In colder areas, a fleece cover or cloche will help protect it from the harshest frosts.

Why You Should Grow Chard

If you’re looking for a veg that’s as beautiful as it is practical, chard is the answer. It’s a fantastic cut-and-come-again crop, handles a range of conditions, and looks stunning in both veg beds and ornamental borders. Plus, heritage varieties bring an extra level of uniqueness to your garden, preserving traditional flavours and colours that have been passed down for generations.

So, whether you’re a seasoned grower or just getting started, get some heirloom chard seeds in the soil – your garden (and your plate) will thank you!