Rainline Garden

When to plant Swiss chard in Bend and Redmond, OR

Plant Swiss chard from seed, directly in the garden in Bend and Redmond, May 12 – Jul 7.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Spacing
10 inches apart
Planting depth
½ inch deep
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 55 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds May 12 – Jul 7, ½ inch deep, 10 inches apart.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Harvest: Cut outer stalks at the base. One planting keeps producing from early summer into winter.

Varieties that do well here

  • Bright Lights
  • Fordhook Giant
  • Rhubarb

Watch out for

Leaf miners, the same as beets. Remove spotted leaves early.

Handles both cool spring weather and summer heat; harvest outer leaves for months.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant Swiss chard in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through July 7. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

How long until I can harvest Swiss chard?

About 55 days after planting. Cut outer stalks at the base. One planting keeps producing from early summer into winter.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for Swiss chard in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Swiss chard in every city