Crops › Chard (Swiss Chard)
How to grow Chard (Swiss Chard)
in the UK
Sow April to July, harvest July to November. About 60 days from seed to plate.
Chard, or Swiss Chard as some call it, is a cracking leafy green that's really easy to grow on the allotment. It's proper versatile, good for salads when young, or cooked like spinach when older, and it just keeps on giving. It adds a bit of colour to the plot too, which is always nice, isn't it?
Sowing
You can start your chard seeds from April right through to July, which means you can get a good succession going. Sow them direct into the ground where they're to grow, about 2 cm deep. Pop a few seeds together in stations, about 20-30 cm apart, then thin them out to the strongest seedling once they're up and growing a bit, like I say, you want the strongest one to do well. If you're keen to get an early start, you could sow a few indoors in modules in April and plant them out after the last frost, which for us up here in the North East is usually mid to late May. But to be honest, chard is pretty hardy, so direct sowing is usually fine.
Growing on
Once your chard seedlings are showing their proper leaves and looking strong, you'll want to thin them out as I mentioned, giving them enough space, around 20-30 cm between plants. They don't need any special support, just good soil and a bit of room to spread out. They'll do well in containers if you've got smaller spaces, but pick a decent sized pot, like, 30 cm across, so the roots have room. Just keep an eye on the watering in pots, as they can dry out quicker.
Looking after it
Chard likes a good drink, especially in dry spells, so keep them well watered to stop them bolting and to keep the leaves tender. A decent mulch around the base of the plants will help keep that moisture in, and it'll keep the weeds down a bit too. You don't need to feed them loads, just a bit of compost in the soil at planting time is usually enough. Picking the outer leaves regularly actually encourages more growth, so keep at it.
What goes wrong
Slugs are probably the biggest bother for young chard plants, they love a tender leaf, don't they? Keep an eye out and use whatever slug control you prefer. Leaf miners can also be a bit of a nuisance, leaving those squiggly trails on the leaves. If you see them, just pinch off and get rid of the affected leaves to stop them spreading. Good air circulation helps, so don't plant them too close together.
Harvest
You can start harvesting chard around 60 days after sowing, usually from July right through to November, sometimes even longer if the weather stays mild. Pick the outer leaves first, cutting them at the base with a sharp knife or just snapping them off. This cut-and-come-again approach means you'll get a longer harvest from each plant. Young leaves are cracking in salads, proper crisp, and the bigger ones are lovely steamed or sautéed. It's best eaten fresh, mind, doesn't store well for ages.
I always try to plant some chard near my onions or beans, as they're good companions, and I reckon it helps keep some of the nasties away from the chard leaves too, you know what I mean.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Bright Lights This variety gives you a brilliant mix of multi-colored stems, reds, yellows, and oranges, all from one packet. It's perfect for adding a bit of cheer and colour to your allotment patch and your dinner plate. | No club votes yet |
| Fordhook Giant A proper heritage variety with really large, broad white stems and crinkly green leaves. This one's a good solid choice if you're looking for a reliable, high-yielding chard that's been around for ages. | No club votes yet |
| Rhubarb Chard As the name suggests, this one has striking deep red stalks that look a bit like rhubarb. It's not just a looker though, the leaves are tasty and it brings a lovely vibrant colour to any dish. | No club votes yet 1 growing it |
| Lucullus This is another heritage favourite, known for its pale green stems and heavily savoyed, or crinkled, leaves. It's a robust grower that offers excellent yields of tender, mild-flavoured chard. | No club votes yet |
| Perpetual Spinach Cut-and-come-again. | No club votes yet |
| Charlotte This specialty chard stands out with its beautiful purple stems and dark green leaves. It's a really attractive plant for the plot and tastes as good as it looks, especially when young. | No club votes yet |
| White Silver A classic heritage variety with broad, crisp white stems and lovely mild-tasting leaves. This one's super reliable and a great choice if you like a traditional-looking chard with a gentle flavour. | No club votes yet |
| Vulcan Vulcan boasts really deep red stems and glossy, dark green leaves that are quite striking. It's a robust plant that produces well and adds a fantastic splash of colour to the vegetable patch. | No club votes yet |
| Perpetual Spinach Leaf beet, narrow stems. | No club votes yet |
| Flamingo Pink This heritage chard truly lives up to its name with bright, vibrant pink stems that stand out in the garden. It's not just pretty though, it's known for having a sweeter flavour than some other varieties. | No club votes yet |
| Golden Sunrise If you're after something really cheerful, Golden Sunrise delivers with its bright yellow stems. It's a fantastic, eye-catching variety that brings a sunny disposition to your plot and your plate. | No club votes yet |
| Oriole Orange This one offers truly vibrant orange stems that are sure to catch your eye on the allotment. It's a sturdy, productive chard that tastes great and adds a lovely warm colour to your meals. | No club votes yet |
| Peppermint Peppermint chard is a unique one, showing off pretty pink and white striped stems. It's a real conversation starter in the garden and the kitchen, offering both beauty and a good harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Magenta Sunset With its stunning magenta stems, this heritage variety is truly colourful and visually impressive. It's a vigorous grower that provides a reliable crop of tasty leaves with a brilliant splash of colour. | No club votes yet |
| Erbette An Italian leaf chard that's a bit different, as it doesn't form those thick stems like other varieties. It's grown more for its tender, spinach-like leaves, making it perfect if you prefer a less fibrous texture. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
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Cook the harvest
A proper Irish colcannon, but with chard taking the place of the traditional cabbage or kale — and it's genuinely better. The stems go in first for a little sweetness and texture, then the leaves wilt right into the mash, giving you vivid green flecks throughout. Finished with streaky bacon crisped in the pan and a pool of nutty brown butter, this is the kind of side dish that steals the whole meal.
35 min · easyA vibrant saag made almost entirely from chard, cooked down with ginger, garlic and whole spices until silky, then finished with golden pan-fried paneer. Chard's mild bitterness works brilliantly in place of spinach here, bringing more substance to the sauce. Serve with the simply spiced rice and you have a complete, deeply satisfying meal.
55 min · mediumLayers of thinly sliced potato and wilted chard are baked under a blanket of cream and melted Gruyère until golden and bubbling. The chard gives the gratin a slightly earthy depth that cuts through the richness beautifully. This is proper cold-weather comfort food that earns its place on the table.
80 min · mediumA proper weeknight supper built in one pan in under 30 minutes. Smoky chorizo, creamy white beans, and a serious amount of chard wilt down together into something deeply savoury and satisfying. Eat it as it is with good bread, or spoon it over rice if you want to stretch it further.
28 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: onions, beans
Questions people ask
When do you sow Chard (Swiss Chard) in the UK?
Sow Chard (Swiss Chard) from April to July.
How long does Chard (Swiss Chard) take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 60 days, with the harvest July to November.
Which Chard (Swiss Chard) varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Rhubarb Chard, Lucullus and more.
Track your Chard (Swiss Chard) from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.