Why You Should Plant Swiss Chard and How to Plant It

Swiss chard

Swiss chard

Are you looking for a healthy green to plant this fall?

Are you bored with spinach and kale?

You may have never even heard of Swiss chard, but this green or reddish leafy vegetable with a variety of stem colors is not only great tasting, it is also packed with nutrients. Today, we are going to look at why you want to plant Swiss chard and how to do it.

The nutrients behind Swiss chard are enough to add it to your fall garden. Swiss chard is also easy to grow. You can even plant it in your flower beds for that little something extra and has been referred to as “eatable landscape.” It can be used in recipes instead of spinach.

Why People Are Eating Swiss Chard

Just when you got used to kale, now there is another green leafy vegetable to try. There are only 35 calories and more than 300% of the daily recommended value of vitamin K. According to WebMD, Swiss chard is a “nutritional powerhouse” providing those who eat it with Vitamin K, A and C.

Vitamin K isn’t a vitamin that we hear about often. There are many benefits to having vitamin K in your diet. Here are a few of those benefits according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

  • Excessive bleeding – Vitamin K is used to control excessive bleeding as it helps blood clot or coagulate properly.
  • Osteoporosis – Increasing evidence indicates that Vitamin K may help improve bone health.

Please note that WebMD recommends not taking vitamin K supplements unless your doctor has recommended it.

How to Plant Swiss Chard

Fall is the perfect time to plant Swiss chard. The cold weather provides the chard with ability to grow with great flavor. When picking where you want to plant keep in mind that Swiss chard can grow up to 3 feet high and can spread about 2 feet. You will also want to pick a spot that has full sun with some shade and well drained soil. According to Cornell University,

  • Plant about 2 to 3 weeks before last expected frost.
  • Sow seeds ½ to 1 inch deep, 2 to 6 inches apart, in rows 18 to 24 apart.
  • Thin plants to 6 to 12 inches apart.
  • Plants need constant moisture to reach full height potential.

The diseases to pay attention for Swiss chard include leaf spot and mildew. Don’t forget to install a direct to root watering system; this will encourage the seeds to grow their roots deep into the soil.

Your Turn
Have you ever tried growing Swiss chard?

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