Growing at the Speed of Life - A Year in the Life of My First Kitchen Garden

Height: 12 –16"

Width: 6"

Depth: 42 –6 0 "

Chard

Biennial/Annual/Cool Season
Wat e r : Moderate
Sun : Full
Companion Planting :
pro: Cabbage, garlic, leeks, onions, mustard
con: Beets, spinach
Pests : Aphids, flea beetles, nematodes
Diseases : Leaf spot, mildew
Soil: Good drainage; keep cool with mulch
Fertilizer: Low-nitrogen fish emulsion every 4–6
weeks
pH: 6.0–6.8 (+7.5)

Varieties : Scarlet Charlotte (red), Bright Lights

(multicolored), Fordhook Giant

Zones : 2–10

Planting : Seed ½–¾ inch deep, 2 weeks after last frost.

Plant 1–2 inches apart and then thin to 8–12 inches.

Germinate: 7 days

Harvest: 45–55 days

Rotation: Don’t follow beets or spinach; okay to fol­

low legumes

Edible: Leaves, stalks

CHARD • 117