When to plant Swiss chard in The Dalles, OR

Plant Swiss chard from seed, directly in the garden in The Dalles, Apr 1 – May 27. For a fall harvest, plant again Aug 6–20.

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

The Dalles's typical last spring frost is April 11. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about April 1.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

How to grow Swiss chard in The Dalles

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds Apr 1 – May 27, 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 Aug 6–20 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 The Dalles, OR?

Typically April 11. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for The Dalles Municipal Airport (Dallesport, WA).

Is it too late to plant Swiss chard in The Dalles?

The spring planting window runs through May 27. If you miss it, plant again for fall from August 6 to August 20.

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 The Dalles around the same time

Planting dates for Swiss chard in nearby areas

Pendleton, OR Apr 1 – May 27
Yakima, WA Apr 10 – Jun 5
Wenatchee, WA Apr 1 – May 27
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA Apr 1 – May 27
Walla Walla, WA Apr 1 – May 27
Moses Lake, WA Apr 1 – May 27

Full planting calendar for The Dalles · Swiss chard in every city