Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: wbmkk on March 11, 2014, 17:03

Title: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: wbmkk on March 11, 2014, 17:03

I am about to sow my Swiss Chard, but need some advice

Am I correct in assuming they are similar to a cabbage, so I should sow in a seed tray, then prick out into cells / small pots. When cabbage seedlings appear, they always seem to be about an inch tall, with the two wee seed leaves 'high in the sky' I then transplant them, burying them, so these leaves are at the surface.

If not, should I sow the Swiss Chard in cells ?

thank you

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: mumofstig on March 11, 2014, 17:17

I sow mine in modules  ;)

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Lardman on March 11, 2014, 17:47

Like MoS I sow mine into modules (12 cell ½ trays) 1 seed per cell and then thin out the weakest seedlings, out into the garden when big enough. If you have plenty of seed, grow a few cell trays for using as young salad leaves rather than a leafy green.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: wbmkk on March 11, 2014, 17:54

Thank you for the replies.

I'll pop them into cells tomorrow

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Growster... on March 11, 2014, 21:17

Actually, we sow ours directly into the ground, then thin them out.

'Bright lights' is great, because it hangs around all winter, and then picks up again about now, with a few welcome extra leaves during the lean months!

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Headgardener22 on March 11, 2014, 21:32

My experience is that the red leaves don't survive the winter so if you want some now (I'm picking every other day) make sure that you have enough of the yellow and white ones.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Jackypam on March 11, 2014, 22:02

Probably true, but as we haven't had a winter this year all my colours are still going strong!

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Trillium on March 12, 2014, 03:37

I do as Growster does, direct seed. They come up fast and strong.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: tosca100 on March 12, 2014, 06:10

I have always sown outside as the plants last a year so we are eating last year's now, and this year's are just coming through under a cloche.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Madame Cholet on March 12, 2014, 08:06

Yes been picking all winter I direct sow and a few in cells too.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Jackypam on March 12, 2014, 10:19

Mine have a lot of tatty old leaves on now.  Do you cut them down and let them sprout again?  I have just been picking out the new growth, but they do look really awful and I'm tempted to pull them out.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: surbie100 on March 12, 2014, 10:27

I had my red, orange and yellow chard stand happily through snow last year, so perhaps some plants are stronger than others? The red was  a real triffid.

The flower shoots are delicious steamed and lightly buttered/olive oiled. I'd remove all the old tatty leaves and let the plant grow more. It will flower fairly soon.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Growster... on March 12, 2014, 17:42

Never thought of using the flowers, Surbie!

The stems seemed so hard, that I assumed they would never cook well!

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: surbie100 on March 12, 2014, 19:17

If you treat them like PSB and only use the shoots they are lovely and tender.

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Growster... on March 12, 2014, 19:47

Quote from: surbie100 on March 12, 2014, 19:17

If you treat them like PSB and only use the shoots they are lovely and tender.

Sounds like a plan that does!

Thanks for the advice!

Title: Re: Sowing Swiss Chard (Bright LIghts)
Post by: Jackypam on March 13, 2014, 17:46

Yep, I'll try that too, thanks