When to plant Swiss chard by city
Start Swiss chard indoors 3–4 weeks before your last frost, plant them out from 1 week before to 1 week after your last frost, or sow seed outdoors from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after your last frost. For a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Feb 13–20 | Mar 6–20 | Feb 27 – Mar 27 | Sep 8–22 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 11 – Mar 11 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Dec 15–22 | Jan 5–19 | Dec 29 – Jan 26 | Oct 7–21 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Dec 8–15 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Oct 25 – Nov 8 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Mar 3–10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | Mar 17 – Apr 14 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Apr 2–9 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Apr 16 – May 14 | Aug 3–17 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Feb 2–9 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Feb 16 – Mar 16 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Apr 16–30 | Apr 9 – May 7 | Aug 7–21 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Mar 7–14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Mar 13–20 | Apr 3–17 | Mar 27 – Apr 24 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Mar 23–30 | Apr 13–27 | Apr 6 – May 4 | Aug 15–29 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Mar 4–11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | Mar 18 – Apr 15 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Mar 17–31 | Mar 10 – Apr 7 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Mar 14 – Apr 11 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Mar 2–9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Mar 16 – Apr 13 | Sep 8–22 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Mar 7–14 | Mar 28 – Apr 11 | Mar 21 – Apr 18 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow Swiss chard from fall through winter.
Swiss chard spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 4 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 9 inches apart with 18 inches between rows.
Handles heat and light frost. Harvest outer leaves all season.
How to grow Swiss chard
Swiss chard is a beet grown for its leaves and colorful stems. It handles summer heat better than spinach and light frost better than lettuce, so one planting can be picked from late spring until hard freezes. It suits anyone who wants dependable greens with little fuss.
Sun and soil
Full sun to part shade in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.0–7.0. Water 1–2 inches a week; uneven moisture makes leaves tough and off-flavored.
Planting
- Direct-sow ½ inch deep from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, when soil is about 50°F.
- Or start indoors 3–4 weeks ahead and transplant from 1 week before to 1 week after the last frost.
- Each seed is a cluster; thin to one plant every 9 inches in rows 18 inches apart.
- For a fall crop, sow 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Side-dress with nitrogen once in midsummer to keep new leaves coming.
- Mulch to hold moisture and keep leaves clean.
- Remove old, tattered outer leaves so the plant puts energy into new growth.
- Plants often survive mild winters, then bolt the following spring.
Harvest
Cut outer leaves at the base when they reach full size, leaving the center growing. Harvest every week or two. You can also cut the whole plant 2 inches above the soil; it regrows if the growing point is not damaged.
Common problems
- Leafminers: Pale, blotchy tunnels in leaves. Remove affected leaves and use row cover in spring.
- Cercospora leaf spot: Small tan spots with reddish borders. Remove infected leaves, avoid overhead watering, and rotate.
- Slugs: Holes in leaves near the ground. Hand-pick at night, use traps, and avoid overly wet mulch.
- Aphids: Curled leaves. Spray with water or insecticidal soap.
Varieties to try
- 'Fordhook Giant' — large, crinkled leaves, white stems, heat tolerant
- 'Bright Lights' — mix of yellow, orange, pink and red stems
- 'Rhubarb' — deep red stems
- 'Lucullus' — pale green leaves, white stems, productive
Crop rotation
Swiss chard belong to the beet family (Amaranthaceae). Beets, chard and spinach share leaf spot diseases. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: beet, spinach.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant Swiss chard?
What grows well with Swiss chard?
How far apart should I plant Swiss chard?
How long do Swiss chard take to grow?
Can Swiss chard handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Swiss Chard in the Garden — Utah State University Extension