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Rhubarb Chard
Swiss Chard in the US

Rhubarb Chard stands out with its lovely reddish stems, adding a bit of visual interest to your plot. It's a really reliable variety, good for getting an early start if you sow undercover.

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Sow window for Swiss Chard generally, zone 6. In season now.

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How to grow it

Right, for sowing Swiss Chard, the timing really depends on where you are, you know, your USDA zone. My GrowMore CookMore app gives you the exact dates for zones 5-7, but you'll want to adjust for your local last frost. Generally, you can sow seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost, or directly outdoors after all danger has passed. Plant them about half an inch (1 cm) deep, and if you're sowing direct, aim for about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart, thinning them out later. You can do succession sowings every few weeks until mid-summer for a continuous harvest, or later in zones with a long growing season.

If you started your chard indoors, once the seedlings have two proper leaves, you'll need to prick them out gently and pot them up into bigger pots. They're not keen on root disturbance, so be careful. Before planting out, harden them off for a week or two, gradually getting them used to the outdoors. Plant them out about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart, or a bit closer if you want baby leaves. They'll grow well in containers too, as long as they get enough space and good compost, like I say.

Full Swiss Chard guide →

More Swiss Chard varieties

Track your 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.

Tony C Smith
Tony C Smith

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.