• Scientific name: Beta vulgaris
• Also known as: Rainbow chard
• Ideal planting time: Mar, Apr, May, June, Jul, Aug
• Biennial, often grown as annual. Approximate days until harvest: 30 days baby, 60 full
• Seed supplier: Adaptive Seeds

Growing & Seed Saving Tips

From Adaptive Seeds:

“Seed in flats or direct sow March through early August in rows that are 1′ apart. Thin to 1′ spacing for bunching, or 4” for salad size plants. In our area, chard can grow through the winter without protection, but should be planted out in August for this purpose.

Seed Saving

Collect seeds from 20 or more plants in second year once they have started to dry down, usually September. Cut seed heads, place on fabric or a tarp to dry a few more days, then dance to free seed. Collect seeds, then screen and winnow to clean. Isolate from B. vulgaris by 1 mile. Isolate from GMO sugar beet seed production by 2+ miles.”

Share your knowledge!

Do you have planting tips, photos, or recipes to share? You can contribute to this planting guide to help others using the UW Tacoma Seed Library by filling out the feedback and submission form.