WHAT A CHARMER!

It looks good, it tastes good, it's versatile and you get good value for your money. Yes, it's a charmed life with chard, says Tony Flanagan

- Tony Flanagan

Swiss chard, along with perpetual spinach, belongs to the beet family (Beta vulgaris) and has been grown since ancient times. Not only are they nutritious, containing a good range of micronutrients, including vitamin C, they are one of the more colourful vegetables you can grow on your plot. The stalks - which come in a variety of colours - are particularly striking.

SITE AND SOIL

Swiss chard will do well on a sunny or lightly shaded site provided the soil is fertile, well-draining and moisture retentive. So, in autumn or winter, make sure that plenty of well-rotted organic matter has been added to the soil. This will provide the nutrition and moisture needed to facilitate the healthy growth your plants. Also, apply a general fertiliser to the soil a couple of weeks before sowing.

SOWING

If sowing direct, space 10cm (4in) apart, 2.5cm (1in) deep, and in rows 45cm (18in) apart. July sowings can be harvested in the following spring. Water plants in with a gentle spray so as not to displace the seeds. Once the seedlings come up you then need to thin them out to 30cm (12in) between each one. The discarded seedlings are not wasted, however, as they can be added to salads.

Alternatively, start seeds off in cell trays or seed trays filled with multi-purpose compost and plant out when they are large enough to handle, 30cm (12in) apart. This can be a better alternative as you can provide protection from strong winds, heavy rain, and slugs while the seedlings establish themselves. 

GROWING