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Tell me about Swiss Chard
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Tell me about Swiss Chard
I ordered some seeds online and received a free gift of Rhubarb Swiss Chard. I have never grown or even eaten Swiss Chard. From what I have read online, it seems like it can be planted at anytime, and harvest as a pick and come again. Any tips, advice, recipes, or even descriptions would be helpful.
lisaphoto-
Posts : 361
Join date : 2010-03-04
Age : 36
Location : Lebanon, Ohio (near Cincinnati)
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I've got a pic in this thread. It took me a while to be "brave" enough to try it, but I'm loving it now and just planted anotheer square this week.
elliephant-
Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 42
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@lisaphoto wrote:I ordered some seeds online and received a free gift of Rhubarb Swiss Chard. I have never grown or even eaten Swiss Chard. From what I have read online, it seems like it can be planted at anytime, and harvest as a pick and come again. Any tips, advice, recipes, or even descriptions would be helpful.

camprn
Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher-
Posts : 14167
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 55
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I have all my squares planted with spring crops. Can I stick the swiss chard in the middle of some lettuce. I'm guessing the lettuce will be harvested by the time the Chard is big enough to be a problem. Also, how tall does it get. My summer plan includes a lot of tall plants, and I am having a hard time not blocking other plants
lisaphoto-
Posts : 361
Join date : 2010-03-04
Age : 36
Location : Lebanon, Ohio (near Cincinnati)
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@lisaphoto wrote:I have all my squares planted with spring crops. Can I stick the swiss chard in the middle of some lettuce. I'm guessing the lettuce will be harvested by the time the Chard is big enough to be a problem. Also, how tall does it get. My summer plan includes a lot of tall plants, and I am having a hard time not blocking other plants
Swiss Chard does take a while to really get going, IME, so I think that would be fine. It only gets as tall as you let it...you can harvest from it at any stage. Even letting mine go for a long time I'd say it didn't get taller than 2 ft, so I don't think it'll be a problem in terms of blocking other plants.
elliephant-
Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 42
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I tried Swiss chard for the first time last year and loved it. We're planting more this year. The Neon kind. I found that you can cut the leaves off the stems and prepare the stems like you would asparagus. Sprinkle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and pop it on the grill. Yummy!
GlassHen- Posts : 76
Join date : 2011-03-28
Age : 38
Location : Tip of the Thumb of Michigan, Zone 5B
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2008/02/baked-swiss-chard-stems-recipe-with.html

There's more chard recipes on Kalyn's blog, click the Vegetables link over on the left.
Here's some good ones from EatingWell magazine:
http://www.eatingwell.com/search/apachesolr_search/chard
I've tried the Chard & Feta tart and the Stuffed Card with Fresh Marinara Sauce -- both were exceptional! I also posted a couple of chard recipes in our SFG forum's recipe section.
Last year I grew two squares of the Bright Lights Swiss chard and it was way more than enough for the hub & me. Gave a lot away. This year I'm trying an Italian chard called Argentata. It's supposed to have a milder flavor (i.e. less oxalic taste).
pattipan

There's more chard recipes on Kalyn's blog, click the Vegetables link over on the left.
Here's some good ones from EatingWell magazine:
http://www.eatingwell.com/search/apachesolr_search/chard
I've tried the Chard & Feta tart and the Stuffed Card with Fresh Marinara Sauce -- both were exceptional! I also posted a couple of chard recipes in our SFG forum's recipe section.
Last year I grew two squares of the Bright Lights Swiss chard and it was way more than enough for the hub & me. Gave a lot away. This year I'm trying an Italian chard called Argentata. It's supposed to have a milder flavor (i.e. less oxalic taste).
pattipan
pattipan-
Posts : 808
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : WV -- Zone 6a
Tell me about Swiss Chard
OMG pattipan,
That dish looks soooooooo good! I'm on my way to get Chard seeds! I'm definitely gonna have to try that recipe!
We were just at the local home center for a completely different reason than gardening. I had to make my husband swear he'd keep me away from the seeds! I just can't seem to resist those little packets with the beautiful pictures on them, promising great veggies to come!
That dish looks soooooooo good! I'm on my way to get Chard seeds! I'm definitely gonna have to try that recipe!
We were just at the local home center for a completely different reason than gardening. I had to make my husband swear he'd keep me away from the seeds! I just can't seem to resist those little packets with the beautiful pictures on them, promising great veggies to come!
sherryeo-
Posts : 850
Join date : 2011-04-03
Age : 66
Location : Mississippi Gulf Coast Zone 8B
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
How cool would this dish look using bright pink stems!!! De-lish!
GlassHen- Posts : 76
Join date : 2011-03-28
Age : 38
Location : Tip of the Thumb of Michigan, Zone 5B
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
This is the first year I've had any luck with Chard, but so far I'm getting a bumper crop
I've mostly done the garlic and olive oil saute, but I've also had yummy results using the leaves as a wrapper for egg-roll type fillings and then steaming the rolls

I've mostly done the garlic and olive oil saute, but I've also had yummy results using the leaves as a wrapper for egg-roll type fillings and then steaming the rolls

sceleste54-
Posts : 383
Join date : 2010-04-08
Location : Florida Panhandle
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
Sherry Owens wrote:OMG pattipan,
That dish looks soooooooo good! I'm on my way to get Chard seeds! I'm definitely gonna have to try that recipe!
We were just at the local home center for a completely different reason than gardening. I had to make my husband swear he'd keep me away from the seeds! I just can't seem to resist those little packets with the beautiful pictures on them, promising great veggies to come!
Aha, another member for Seed Hoarders Anonymous! That recipe tastes as good as it looks. Actually just about any veggie tastes good with olive oil and toasty Parmesan cheese! I do zucchini the same way.
pattipan
pattipan-
Posts : 808
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : WV -- Zone 6a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
So, does Chard do well in salads? Or, must it be cooked? I was too skeered to try it this year, but really think it would add to all my other leafies in the garden. I had my eyes on the neon, too. Just too cool in a side dish with all that color.
BackyardBirdGardner-
Posts : 2727
Join date : 2010-12-25
Age : 44
Location : St. Louis, MO
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@BackyardBirdGardner wrote:So, does Chard do well in salads? Or, must it be cooked? I was too skeered to try it this year, but really think it would add to all my other leafies in the garden. I had my eyes on the neon, too. Just too cool in a side dish with all that color.
So far no complaints on raw in salad - I think it has an buttery flavor. I have not let it get larger than about 8-10 inches before I cut the outside leaves. I have only mixed it with other lettuces though - I have not had a chard only salad...
ashort-
Posts : 520
Join date : 2011-02-17
Age : 49
Location : Frisco, TX zone 8a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@BackyardBirdGardner wrote:So, does Chard do well in salads? Or, must it be cooked?
You can use chard basically the same way you use spinach. And just like spinach, the younger leaves are better in salads -- they get tougher and stronger flavored when older. Think of it something like a hot weather spinach substitute.
pattipan
pattipan-
Posts : 808
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : WV -- Zone 6a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@pattipan wrote:@BackyardBirdGardner wrote:So, does Chard do well in salads? Or, must it be cooked?
You can use chard basically the same way you use spinach. And just like spinach, the younger leaves are better in salads -- they get tougher and stronger flavored when older. Think of it something like a hot weather spinach substitute.
pattipan
Really? Spinach? Maybe I'd like it, then... I've been too chicken to try it!

Miss M- Posts : 343
Join date : 2011-03-08
Location : Zone 8b, Coastal & Tropical South
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@Miss M wrote:Really? Spinach? Maybe I'd like it, then... I've been too chicken to try it!
Me too so far....
I am just really dense about what to DO with different veggies. My cooking repertoire is very narrow. I am a good cook but I only cook a few things. I am sick of almost EVERYTHING I cook.
I had never had a turnip till this past winter...
I think I may try this too!

middlemamma-
-
Posts : 2260
Join date : 2010-04-25
Age : 40
Location : Post Falls Idaho and LOVING it
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
We use small chard in salads. My favorite way to eat it is in chicken noodle soup! I have also put it in stir fry, fried rice, eggs, and my husband has been juicing it lately too! It just keeps growing and growing and growing!
We planted the bright lights chard. It's very pretty
We planted the bright lights chard. It's very pretty
duhh-
Posts : 378
Join date : 2010-03-04
Age : 37
Location : Glendale,AZ
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
Question about planting, can I direct seed, and how many per square?
lisaphoto-
Posts : 361
Join date : 2010-03-04
Age : 36
Location : Lebanon, Ohio (near Cincinnati)
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I plant about 25 per square, broadcast style, and then thin until the few plants that look great are maturing. I think I had about 10 healthy mature plants do quite well per square last year.@lisaphoto wrote:Question about planting, can I direct seed, and how many per square?
camprn
Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher-
Posts : 14167
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 55
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I have 5 per square and let them "take turns" as I cut them, but I do cut them really large.
ETA: Oh, and direct seeded.
ETA: Oh, and direct seeded.
elliephant-
Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 42
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
Another was I've used it is to process a bunch at once (like you'd need to for one of those stems recipes), then roll the leaves up and cut them into bits, boil for a few minutes, drain, then put in ice cube trays (with a bit of water added as needed) to make handy cubes that I keep in a freezer bag. Then, anytime I'm making something like spaghetti sauce last night, I can toss in a couple of cubes and sneak some greens in to the kids. That way it just becomes some green bits in a familiar dish
elliephant-
Posts : 842
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 42
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I started with 2 squares, with 8 seeds per square, but ended up with 4 - 5 plants per square. I planted the Bright Lights type and I wanted to be sure I had all the colors, so when they got big enough to tell their colors I moved them around and eliminated a few. Mel's book recommends 4 per square and that's about right, because they do bush out quite a bit.
I thought I had taken a picture of just my chard, but I could only find this one where I was taking a pic of my sick flea-bitten eggplants. Anyway...you can get an idea of how four per square is plenty! I gave a lot away, plus had more than enough to try new recipes.

pattipan
I thought I had taken a picture of just my chard, but I could only find this one where I was taking a pic of my sick flea-bitten eggplants. Anyway...you can get an idea of how four per square is plenty! I gave a lot away, plus had more than enough to try new recipes.

pattipan
pattipan-
Posts : 808
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : WV -- Zone 6a
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
Summertime Spinach, huh? Well, I'm sold. That picture of stems looks so friggin good, too.
BackyardBirdGardner-
Posts : 2727
Join date : 2010-12-25
Age : 44
Location : St. Louis, MO
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
I can't believe I never even heard of Swiss Chard until I was on these forums. They sound easy, hardy, and tasty. I wonder why more people don't eat or grow them.
lisaphoto-
Posts : 361
Join date : 2010-03-04
Age : 36
Location : Lebanon, Ohio (near Cincinnati)
Re: Tell me about Swiss Chard
@lisaphoto wrote:I can't believe I never even heard of Swiss Chard until I was on these forums. They sound easy, hardy, and tasty. I wonder why more people don't eat or grow them.
I never thought about growing chard until I had a SFG. I was watching Everyday Italian on Food Network and I saw all these yummy dishes Giada De Laurentiis made with it, that's when I decided it was time!
pattipan
pattipan-
Posts : 808
Join date : 2010-03-04
Location : WV -- Zone 6a
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