Cool-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Swiss Chard

Beautiful, productive green with colorful stems. More heat-tolerant than spinach, producing from spring through fall.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

Water

1 inch per week

Days to Harvest

50-60

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

12"

Frost Tolerance

moderate

The Short Answer

Swiss Chard are cold-tolerant and actually prefer cooler growing conditions. You can direct sow seeds 2 weeks before your last frost date — one of the earliest crops you can plant. Or start seeds indoors 4 weeks before your last frost for an even earlier harvest. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is spinach's tougher, more versatile cousin — it handles heat that makes spinach bolt, handles cold that kills most greens, and produces for months from a single sowing. The colorful stems (red, orange, yellow, pink, white) are beautiful enough for any flower bed. Harvest outer stalks first, leaving the center to continue growing. Each harvest produces a flush of new growth. Bright Lights is the go-to variety for color; Fordhook Giant is the classic green. Chard is remarkably pest-free — probably because not enough people grow it to have specialized enemies.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin swiss chard seeds indoors 4 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 50°F to germinate, which typically takes 7-14 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 2 weeks before your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 50°F. Harden off seedlings for 5 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Swiss Chard can be direct sown 2 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 0.5" deep, spaced 12" apart.

Fall Planting

Swiss Chard are planted in fall, 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Plant 0.5" deep, 12" apart.

Growing Tips

Harvest outer leaves first, letting the center continue growing. Bright Lights variety produces red, orange, yellow, pink, and white stems — stunning in the garden and on the plate.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Beans Cabbage Onions

Keep away from:

Corn Cucumbers

Swiss Chard Planting Dates by State

Click your state for swiss chard planting dates specific to your location:

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026