Swiss chard
Amaranthaceae · Direct sow · compact garden planning guide
| Bed spacing | 12 × 12 in (304.8 × 304.8 mm) |
|---|---|
| Minimum sun used | 5 hours per day |
| Root depth used | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Container volume used | 10 L |
| Spring preparation | -7 to 7 days from your last frost |
| Maturity estimate | 40–60 days from sowing |
Square-bed spacing, root-space and sun thresholds, spring offsets, germination check ranges, harvest occupancy and clearance days are selected planning settings. They are not universal cultivar rules or a guaranteed harvest schedule. Packet, nursery and local guidance take precedence.
Before planting
Plant when soil is workable and not waterlogged; follow packet temperature guidance.
Establish
Thin multi-seed clusters to the selected target plants after true leaves develop.
Tend and harvest
Remove damaged outer leaves and check the base without burying the crown. Cut mature outer leaves at the base while leaving the growing center.
Plans using this crop
Spring starts · 5+ hours sun
4×8 beginner greens
Three leafy crops with different heat tolerances and harvest habits.
Leaf lettuce · Spinach · Swiss chard
No indoor seed starting · 6+ hours sun
4×8 two-crop simple bed
Two large blocks for a gardener who wants fewer crop types and no trellis.
Bush snap beans · Swiss chard
Spring starts · 5+ hours sun
Weekend preparation with a care handover
Group preparation and thinning on a weekend, then leave a clear moisture and harvest handover.
Swiss chard · Small-root beets
Lower sun · 6+ hours sun
4×8 six-hour sun starter
A measured six-hour location with warm-season planting conditions shown explicitly.
Bush snap beans · Compact basil · Swiss chard
Spring starts · 5+ hours sun
A mixed bed with separate harvest decisions
Use distinct leaf-cut, root-lift and repeat-cut blocks to avoid clearing healthy plants together.
Leaf lettuce · Small-root beets · Swiss chard
References
- UMD Extension: Growing Swiss chard
Large chard plants need 8–12 inch plant distance. We select 12 inches for leaves and stems.
- UMD Extension: Growing vegetables in containers and salad tables
Sun exposure, drainage, growing media and crop-specific minimum volumes; our thresholds are conservative planning settings.
- UMN Extension: Planting the vegetable garden
Cool and warm season establishment; weather and soil readiness matter. Minnesota month dates are not used as global dates.
- UMN Extension: Planting for fall harvest
Maturity is a cultivar-dependent estimate; our extra 14-day fall buffer is an explicit planning assumption.
Updated 2026-10-13. We have not field-tested the plan in your climate.