Mae Chow
Hi, this is my first post, so please bear with me if I have posted this in the wrong place, and let me know if this is the case Last season, I grewrown Swiss Chard (Bright Lights) on my plot 😉 It was eaten and enjoyed 😉 I assumed that it was an annual and planned to grow it again, but elsewhere on the plot in my usual rotation. It is, however, still going strong and we hade had another meal from it yesterday. I’m have readingread that it can sometimes behave like a perennial. It is in a sheltered spot so this may be the case here – most of the plants are viable and the plants that seemed to disappear and die are showing new growth. What I would like to know is this – is it OK to carry on with the current plants and will they still be good eating or should I start again and re-sow for fresh plants? [1]
Damping Off: This is one of the most common problems when starting plants from seed. The seedling emerges and appears healthy; then it suddenly wilts and dies for no obvious reason. Damping off is caused by a fungus that is active when there is abundant moisture and soils and air temperatures are above 68 degrees F. Typically, this indicates that the soil is too wet or contains high amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Burpee Recommends: Keep seedlings moist but do not overwater; avoid over-fertilizing your seedlings; thin out seedlings to avoid overcrowding; make sure the plants are getting good air circulation; if you plant in containers, thoroughly wash them in soapy water and rinse in a ten per cent bleach solution after use. (edited by Keith H. From Yuyao, China on October 19, 2021) [2]
Additional content from bonnieplants.com also demonstrates how colourful stems and bright green leaves make Swiss chard the single most glamorous garden green as well as a nutritious vegetable. Because it does not ship well, you are not likely to find it at the grocery store. Growing Swiss chard yourself is the only way to have beautiful leaves like these. Fortunately, it is easy to grow in the ground or in containers—especially when you begin with strong, vigorous Bonnie Plants® Swiss chard starter plants—and is one of the few greens that tolerates both cool weather and heat. It will linger in the spring garden much longer than mustard, turnips, arugula, or other greens with the tendency to bolt. In the fall, it grows well until killed by a hard freeze. (we truly appreciate Danyelle Baker for telling us about this). [3]
There are several reasons why you might need to transplant swiss chard. If you started the seeds indoors in a container, you will need to transplant the seedlings when it is time to move them outdoors. If you need to thin out a group of swiss chard plants that are too tightly planted and are crowding each other, transplanting is recommended, as Swiss chard is a very versatile plant that usually tolerates the transplant process very well. As long as you provide everything that the transplant needs to grow, it should thrive in its new location where it has plenty of room of its own. (last revised 31 days ago by Latice Godfrey from Jubayl, Saudi Arabia) [4]
