Chard & Perpetual Spinach
Chard & Perpetual Spinach (Beta vulgaris)
Chard and perpetual spinach are closely related leafy greens that are grown in much the same way. Despite the name, perpetual spinach is not a true spinach but a type of leaf beet, valued for its ability to provide a continuous harvest over a long season.
Both are highly productive, easy to grow and ideal for gardeners looking for a reliable “cut-and-come-again” crop that takes up relatively little space.
Types
- Swiss Chard – Colourful stems (red, yellow, white) and broad leaves
- Perpetual Spinach – Narrower leaves, more spinach-like in flavour
Growing Conditions
- Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Grows best when a good bucketful of well-rotted manure or compost has been applied per square metre in ground preparation. Soil Ph should be fairly neutral, between 6.5-7.5 so apply ground limestone if your soil is slightly acidic. In terms of site, chard is fairly unfussy and will tolerate exposure.
- Light: Full sun or partial shade
- Spacing: 25–40 cm between plants and rows.
Sowing & Planting
- Sow from mid April and early June for a continuous supply.
- Sow direct or in modules. They establish quite easily so direct sowing is fine, sowing individual seeds in drills 2.5cm deep. If you are growing in modules, sow just one seed per cell. Like beetroot, the seeds are in fact seed clusters so you may get several seedlings per seed sown, in which case you can thin to the strongest one.
- Thin seedlings to final spacing
- Successional sowing will extend harvests but the two sowings in April and June should be all you need.
Outdoor Growing
Chard and perpetual spinach grow very well outdoors in Ireland and can tolerate a range of conditions.
- Suitable for beds, borders and mixed planting. There are many attractive varieties of chard with brightly coloured stems that look as well in your flower borders as they do in your veg patch as long as they have the right growing conditions.
- Tolerates cooler conditions than true spinach
- Can continue cropping into autumn and mild winters
Growing Under Cover (Greenhouse/Polytunnel)
- Can be grown under cover for earlier or extended harvests
- Useful for winter production in tunnels
- Ensure good airflow to prevent disease
Care & Maintenance
- Water regularly, especially in dry weather
- You can feed occasionally to support leafy growth but this shouldn't be necessary if the ground was well prepared .
- Keep weed-free while establishing
Growing in Containers
- Very suitable for pots and raised beds
- Use good quality compost
- Harvest regularly to maintain growth
Harvesting & Storage
Harvest outer leaves regularly, allowing the centre to continue producing. Try pressing down and twisting the leaves free rather than cutting as this is better for the plant and less likely to attract disease.
Leaves will keep for a few days in the fridge in a plastic bag or container and they can also be blanched and frozen. If blanching, and you have large stalks it is best to separate the stalks from the leaf. Stalks can be blanched in boiling water for 2 minutes whilst the leaves only require 1 minute. These should then be plunged into icy water to cool quickly. Once cooled the stems can be bagged and frozen. For the leaves, it is best to squeeze al the water from them in your hands or using a lint free tea towel or some muslin, which you can twist to squeeze all the water out before freezing.
Varieties to Try
- Bright Lights – Colourful chard mix
- Fordhook Giant – Large green leaves
- Perpetual Spinach – Reliable and productive
Common Problems
- Bolting: Can occur in hot, dry conditions
- Leaf damage: From slugs or pests
- Dry soil: Leads to tough leaves
Culinary Use
- Steamed or sautéed
- Soups and stews
- Used as a spinach substitute
Recipe – Sautéed Chard with Garlic
Ingredients
Chard leaves
Garlic
Olive oil
- Sauté garlic in oil.
- Add chopped chard and cook until wilted.
- Season and serve.
Simple and versatile dish.
Nutritional Information
- Rich in vitamins A, C and K
- Good source of iron and magnesium
- High in fibre