Swiss chard is one of the most significant leafy vegetables in terms of its nutrients, color, and appearance. Although generally, people want to grow maroon stalk swiss chard for those who don't know, swiss chard has also a variety of greens stalk. Even you can grow them in a single container if you practice the right method with precise transplantation.
It is a very common mistake people do while transplantation of such short-roots plants, especially for beginners. Don't worry, I'll explain to you every single detail possible at the beginner level to grow swiss chard in containers.
Growing swiss chard in containers at home garden
It is always better to grow swiss chard from seeds in containers instead of cuttings. You can sow both green and maroon stalk swiss chard in nursery cups at once separately. Further, you need to transplant young plants in bigger containers. Better to start sowing seeds from spring to harvest longer in moderate light.
But before that, let's have a quick eye on swiss chard growing conditions and other requirements.
Growing conditions for swiss chard
- Soil type
Ordinary garden soil is not best for swiss chard plants so it needs some developments in its richness and fertility. So we use compost, peat, and garden soil mixture to make it more specific, rich, and well-drained for swiss chard plants.
- Climate conditions and temperature
It can grow in both cool and warm climates if the temperature is neither too cold nor too hot.
In summer, temperature above 80F is stressful for chard, and below 35F is cold for chard. Somewhere between moderate is quite good enough to grow Swiss chard in containers.
- Sunlight and shade
Swiss chard-like sunlight of 5 to 8 hours a day. It shouldn't be too intense afternoon or you need some partial shade to avoid damage to plants.
In warm climates, sunlight is not harmful at any time for swiss chard but in summer it can create problems of drought during the afternoon period. So be careful during temperature increases.
Requirements to grow swiss chard
Tools
- Small planters
- Nursery cups
- Spraying bottles
- Scissors
Materials
- Garden soil
- Coco-peat
- Compost
- Swiss chard seeds
Containers for swiss chard
The best containers for swiss chard are wider according to the number of plants. A depth of 6 to 8 inches is enough for swiss chard. The container should be 20 to 22 inches wide for 4 to 5 swiss chard plants at their maximum growth.
Nursery cups should be bigger than ordinary ones so it can take time to expand up to young plants.
Method of growing swiss chard
Step 1- Preparing soil for swiss chard seeds
Preparing soil for swiss chard is not difficult but should be done in two stages; sowing and transplantation. Take a ratio of 2:2;1 of garden soil, compost, and coco-peat respectively.
Step 2- Sowing seeds
Fill the freshly made soil mixture in the nursery cups. So here, we're going to grow two different swiss chard plants; green stalk and maroon stalk. Sow 2 or 3 seeds in every cup but don't mix them in the same container. Press them with fingers inside the soil for 1 to 2 cm deep and cover them. Spray some water and let them grow in sunlight.
Step 3- Seed germination and young plants
After 7 to 10 days, swiss chard seeds will start germinating in cups with their maroon and green thin stalks in distinct cups. Let them grow in sunlight for one more week till they become young plants about 5 to 6 inches.
Step 4- Transplanting young plants in bigger containers
Prepare the bigger containers with a new soil mixture of the same ratio as you used for germination. Fill it in the container and spray some water to increase moisture. Wear safety gloves and make some space with your hands or planter tool. Plant the young swiss chard plants in these spaces and cover them with soil up to their roots.
Repeat this process with every single plant and keep your container in sunlight. Yes, you can transplant maroon and green swiss chard plants in the same containers.
Step 5- Further care for plants
From here, you just need to provide these plants with sunlight and enough moisture to grow. Although these plants don't ask for much irrigation in a short time still regular monitoring is important. Don't fertilize further.
Step 6- First harvesting of swiss chard
After 5 to 7 weeks, swiss chard will become ready for harvesting. But if they don't look like 5 to 6 inches bigger leaves then give them some more time. So finally, use scissors to cut the swiss chard leaves. Remove only older leaves from outer portions. Let the newer ones grow and more leaves will grow from the mid portion further.
Step 7- Further harvesting of swiss chard
After first harvesting, you just have to follow the simple care of plants and they will grow more leaves in a very short time. In the next 2 weeks, you can harvest another round of swiss chard leaves. The best time to harvest these leaves is the morning period when they remain quite soft.
After 3 to 4 harvesting, you can take one or two more harvesting from these plants. But before the start of frost, you need to remove the whole plant. So use scissors as same and cut in the same way as the market swiss chard bunch.