Swiss Chard
Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard
SW851
60 days. Succulent celery-like stalks support large, dark green, very savoyed, fleshy leaves. The delicate pale green 8-10 inch stalks are wonderfully tender and juicy. Overall, plants reach 22 inches. Cut up fresh leaves like confetti for salads, steam whole leaves with other greens, substitute for grape leaves in dolmas, or chop and add to savory rolls and biscuits. A cold-hardy variety that is also tolerant to heat.
Winter Growing Information
Open Pollinated
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"Beta vulgaris, Cicla Group: Swiss chards and Perpetual Swiss chard are both members of the Beta or beet genus. Over the years, they have been bred for their succulent greens instead of their roots. Cultivated by the Greeks, the chards are quite popular today. Perpetual Swiss chard is extremely bolt resistant, allowing for extended harvests.
CULTURE: Sow April through mid-July in well dug, fertile soil. Optimum soil temperature for germination is 50-75°F. Plant seed 1/2 inch deep, 2-3 inches apart, with 18-24 inches between rows. Days to germination: 5-14. Thin to 10-12 inches after the plants reach a height of 3 inches. When plants are about 6 inches tall, an application of 1 cup of our complete fertilizer or 1/2 cup of blood meal per 5 row feet fosters leaf growth. Starting indoors is not recommended.
INSECTS AND DISEASE: Flea beetles sometime attack Swiss chard. Cover the beds with a floating row cover like Reemay or Grow Guard 20, or spray with Rotenone or Rotenone-Pyrethrin.
HARVEST: The crop is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. The outer leaves can be harvested as soon as fully developed, taking care not to damage the growing point. Fresh leaves should be stored at 33°F and 90-95% relative humidity.
SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 2 years. Approximately 50 seeds per gram, 28 grams per ounce.
Sampler: 3 grams
Packet: 7 grams"
CULTURE: Sow April through mid-July in well dug, fertile soil. Optimum soil temperature for germination is 50-75°F. Plant seed 1/2 inch deep, 2-3 inches apart, with 18-24 inches between rows. Days to germination: 5-14. Thin to 10-12 inches after the plants reach a height of 3 inches. When plants are about 6 inches tall, an application of 1 cup of our complete fertilizer or 1/2 cup of blood meal per 5 row feet fosters leaf growth. Starting indoors is not recommended.
INSECTS AND DISEASE: Flea beetles sometime attack Swiss chard. Cover the beds with a floating row cover like Reemay or Grow Guard 20, or spray with Rotenone or Rotenone-Pyrethrin.
HARVEST: The crop is ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. The outer leaves can be harvested as soon as fully developed, taking care not to damage the growing point. Fresh leaves should be stored at 33°F and 90-95% relative humidity.
SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 75%. Usual seed life: 2 years. Approximately 50 seeds per gram, 28 grams per ounce.
Sampler: 3 grams
Packet: 7 grams"
