You might have to prune away any heavily infested or web-covered leaves. Then, spray plants with water in the same way you would do for aphids. Once the first hard frost arrives, you can harvest the entire plant, or bring your pot indoors to overwinter. Get more tips on harvesting here. How to Grow Microgreens Swiss chard seeds are special in that they can germinate in relatively cold soil, as low as 50 degrees F. (10 C.). Swiss chard plants are somewhat frost hardy, so the seeds can be sown outside directly in the soil about two weeks before the average last frost date of spring. If you want to get a head start, however, you can start them indoors three to four weeks before the last frost date in your area.

Also known as silverbeet, spinach beet, leaf beet or simply, chard, Swiss chard is a wonderful addition to soup, dip and baked dishes, and it can be sauteed in oil with garlic for a side or a warm salad. The taste is reminiscent of spinach and beet greens, and the stalks come in green, red, purple, yellow and more. Where, When and How to Plant Swiss Chard If you need a little help in the water-retention department, some straw mulch can help to maintain more moisture in the soil.

2 litre Potted Plants

Possible problems: Mildew and grey mould can be a problem in humid weather. Ensure there is plenty of space surrounding the plants to improve air circulation

As the new plants mature, continue to keep the soil moist and a layer of mulch can be added around the plants to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Chard has had a long and distinguished history. Prized for its medicinal properties as much as its culinary versatility, ancestors of this colourful vegetable supposedly grew in the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon, flourished in China during the 7th century BC, and were even written about by Aristotle in Ancient Greece. It has grown in Britain since at least 1596, when English botanist, John Gerard, recorded growing it in his famous Herball. Its name comes from the Latin word for ‘thistle’ ( carduus) but the vegetable goes by many alternative names including, silver beet, beet spinach, seakale beet, and leaf beet. It is also commonly referred to as Swiss chard, although since the plant originated in the Mediterranean, this prefix is somewhat misleading. It is thought that the Dutch seed merchants of the 19 th century added the word ‘Swiss’ to differentiate the plant from French spinach varieties.Water regularly during hot spells, so that the plants do not flower and set seed. At some point, regardless of your efforts, chard will do this - you can leave the seedheads to spread and germinate at random for next year, or collect them for drying and sowing in another location. Beetroot’s botanical name is Beta vulgaris, so Chard’s (rather lengthy) botanical name is Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla. It also has a very long harvesting season from late spring well into autumn. It’s taste and use in the kitchen are very much like that of spinach.” joegardener Online Gardening Academy Growing Epic Tomatoes : Tomato expert Craig LeHoullier joins me in leading this course on how to grow healthier, productive tomato plants and how to overcome tomato-growing challenges. Fordhook Giant’ is also an heirloom variety that is renowned for its vigorous growth. It is also particularly hardy and the most frost-resistant, allowing the gardener to harvest leaves through winter so long as the ground is not frozen over. Its leaves are almost the colour of kale while its stems and petioles are creamy white. It is strongly flavoured and is great for cooked dishes. When & Where To Plant

Since spider mites are a little tougher to get rid of, you can turn to the big guns if you can’t get rid of them. Swiss chard seeds can be collected and stored from plants in their second year of growth, to save until spring to sow. Before seedlings can be planted outdoors, they must be hardened off. Hardening off is the process of gradually introducing plants to the outdoor environment and the intensity of the sun. Put seedlings out for just a half-hour on the first day and add more time outdoors each day for a week until they are ready to handle eight hours of direct sunlight.Harvest throughout the year, although growth will slow in very hot and very cold weather, so quantities will fluctuate. When harvesting, always leave some greenery on the plant so that it can continue to absorb sunlight and convert this into energy for new growth. I prefer to harvest mine when they’re about two inches tall because that’s the perfect bite-size portion. Troubleshooting Tips