Swiss Chard and Kale: Tip: Soak seeds overnight in water before planting to ensure strong germination. Plant seeds 1/4 – 1/2 inch deep and 3-6 inches apart. Set out seedlings 8-12 inches apart. Indoors or out, thin newly germinated seedlings with small scissors instead of pulling them out.
Can I plant Swiss chard and kale together?
Answer: Kale and Swiss chard have similar maintenance needs, so they make very suitable companion plants that can be grown close together or even in the same planter. If you decide to grow the two together in separate containers, choose a pot for each individual plant that’s at least 12 inches wide.
What is the best way to plant kale?
Space kale 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Kale is a fast grower, so keep the soil moist by giving it 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.
What should not be planted near Swiss chard?
Chard is not a fan of most herbs with the exception of mint. These two make great garden buddies. Chard also shouldn’t be planted near potatoes, corn, cucumbers, or melons. All of these will either compete for soil nutrients or foster harmful pests.
How many days will it take to grow Swiss chard?
Most Swiss chard varieties are ready to harvest in 50 to 60 days. It’s best to harvest while the leaves are still glossy, snapping two or three leaves off the outside of each plant.
What can you not plant near kale?
You should also avoid planting kale near other members of the brassica family. Keep vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and collards away from kale. Brassica plants that grow together encourage pests that attack one plant species to attack the other brassicas as well.
Does Swiss chard grow back every year?
Chard is a biennial plant, meaning it has a two year life cycle, but it is cultivated as an annual in the vegetable garden and harvested in its first season of growth. Once it begins to flower and set seed in its second year, its leaves turn bitter and unpalatable.
Does kale regrow after cutting?
Is kale cut and come again? When kale is harvested properly, it works as a cut and come again vegetable that quickly grows back to regenerate its leaves for multiple harvests. For your kale to grow back, harvest the oldest leaves first—those on the outside of the plant at the bottom.
Does kale grow back every year?
Kale is a biennial that many people grow as an annual, advises Cornell University. Some varieties of kale are perennial plants that come back year after year.
How do you pick kale so it keeps growing?
On a kale plant, this is the central portion of the plant where stems converge and new growth emerges. To allow new growth, cut the stems above the growth point. To do this, cut just below where the stem connects to the larger leaves. This will leave the smaller ones intact so the plant can continue growing.
Does Swiss chard like full sun?
Swiss chard performs best in full sun but will also tolerate a little shade. The soil should be well drained and amended with plenty of organic matter, namely compost.
What grows well with kale?
Among the veggie plants compatible with kale are:
- Artichokes.
- Beets.
- Celery.
- Cucumber.
- Lettuce.
- Onion.
- Peas.
- Potatoes.
How far apart do I plant Swiss chard?
Plant seeds one-fourth to one-half inch deep, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin Swiss chard to four to six inches apart. Thin spinach to two to four inches apart.
What month do you plant Swiss chard?
Swiss chard prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. In the North, sow from early spring to midsummer for a fall crop; in the South sow in fall to spring. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are large enough to handle.
Does Swiss chard grow back after you cut it?
This versatility makes it a valuable crop with a very long growing season. If your plants do bolt in hot weather, promptly cut the flower stalks close to the base, and plants will continue to develop new leaves. For all the cultivation details you’ll need, be sure to read our guide on how to plant and grow Swiss chard.
Can I grow Swiss chard in pots?
Swiss chard doesn’t have deep roots, so the container that you select doesn’t need to be too deep. Eight inches should be plenty. However, you don’t want the container to tip over or crowd those shallow roots, so make sure it’s at least 12 inches wide as well. A five-gallon container – per plant – is ideal.
How often do kale need to be watered?
Kale needs plentiful, consistent moisture – one to two inches of water per week is usually about right. Make sure you have a thick layer of mulch around your plants to help with moisture retention. If the kale leaves get too dried out, they are likely to wilt.
Does kale need full sun?
One of the most nutritious shade loving vegetables around, kale thrives in just a few hours of sunlight per day. Kale is also extremely cold tolerant, making it a great crop for fall harvests.
How do I keep bugs off my kale?
Products containing pyrethrins kill a variety of insects, including flea beetles. To use, spray your product of choice on your kale plants, these compounds work by affecting insects’ nervous systems, and products quickly kill pests. Another natural insecticide that kills beetles is spinosad.
Do you cut or pull Swiss chard?
3. Trim the leaves. Use a sharp knife to trim the Swiss chard leaves from the stalks. Cut along either side of the stalk to keep the large leaves intact, or fold the chard in half to cut out the stem.
Should I let Swiss chard flower?
If you catch the bolting early and pinch off the flower stalk, you can probably salvage the leaves without too much extra bitterness. Another thing you can do if you have bolting chard plants is let them go. This will allow the seeds to develop, which you can collect to use later.