When to plant Swiss chard in Enterprise and Joseph, OR

Plant Swiss chard from seed, directly in the garden in Enterprise and Joseph, Apr 26 – Jun 21. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 23 – Aug 6.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

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

Why these dates

Enterprise and Joseph's typical last spring frost is May 24. 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.

How to grow Swiss chard in Enterprise and Joseph

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds Apr 26 – Jun 21, ½ inch deep, 10 inches apart.
Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
Plant again Jul 23 – Aug 6 for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Cut outer stalks at the base. One planting keeps producing from early summer into winter.

Key numbers

50–85°FSoil to sprout
Low 20s °FTakes frost to
6.0–7.0Soil pH
Several seedlingsEach seed
8–12 inchesCut stalks at
Spring after a winterBolts

How it works

The plant biology behind the advice above, in plain language.

A beet grown for its leaves

Swiss chard is the same species as beets, Beta vulgaris, bred for big leaves and stems instead of a swollen root. That's why it shares beets' pests and much of their care. Its seeds are actually dried fruit clusters holding several seeds each, so one seed often produces a small clump of seedlings. Thin to the strongest one.

Soil and water

Chard grows best in fertile soil with a pH of about 6.0 to 7.0 and steady moisture. It's more tolerant of salty or slightly alkaline soil than most leafy greens, which helps east of the Cascades. Give it compost at planting and a little extra nitrogen in midsummer to keep new leaves coming.

Heat and cold

Chard seeds sprout in soil from about 50 to 85°F, and plants handle summer heat far better than spinach or lettuce, without bolting. They also take frost into the low 20s. West of the Cascades, a planting often survives mild winters and produces again in early spring.

Why chard bolts

As a biennial, chard flowers after a period of cold. Plants that came through winter will bolt the next spring, and spring plantings that hit a long cold spell soon after sprouting can bolt early too. Once a flower stalk forms, the leaves get smaller and tougher, so start a new planting.

Pests and diseases

Leaf miners leave pale, winding tunnels and blotches in leaves. Pick off affected leaves early and use row cover over young plants. Cercospora leaf spot causes small round spots with reddish-purple edges in warm, humid weather. Remove spotted leaves and water at the base. Slugs are a constant in the Northwest.

Harvest and kitchen notes

Cut the outer stalks near the base when they're 8 to 12 inches tall, and leave the center to keep growing. Like spinach, chard contains oxalates, which give it a slightly mineral bite; cooking reduces them. Bagged in the fridge, it keeps about a week.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Enterprise and Joseph, OR?

Typically May 24. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by July 6. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Joseph.

Is it too late to plant Swiss chard in Enterprise and Joseph?

The spring planting window runs through June 21. If you miss it, plant again for fall from July 23 to August 6.

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.

Why do several chard seedlings come up from one seed?

Each chard "seed" is really a dried fruit cluster with several seeds inside, the same as beets. Thin each clump to the strongest seedling; the extras are good in salads.

Will Swiss chard survive winter?

Often, west of the Cascades. Chard handles frost into the low 20s, and a mulch or row cover helps it through colder snaps. Plants that survive produce again in early spring before they bolt.

Why is my chard going to seed?

Chard is a biennial and flowers after a period of cold, so overwintered plants bolt in spring. A long cold spell right after a spring sowing can also trigger it. Sow a fresh planting to replace them.

Also plant in Enterprise and Joseph around the same time

Planting dates for Swiss chard in nearby areas

Baker City, OR Apr 27 – Jun 22
Pendleton, OR Apr 1 – May 27
The Dalles, OR Apr 1 – May 27
Hood River, OR Apr 1 – May 27
Hermiston, OR Apr 1 – May 27
Ontario, OR Apr 1 – May 27

Full planting calendar for Enterprise and Joseph · Swiss chard in every city