It’s a common question among vegetable gardeners – when is the best time to harvest Swiss Chard? The answer depends on the type of chard you’re growing and the weather in your area, but there are a few general tips that can help guide your harvesting decisions.
When harvesting Swiss Chard, timing is everything! You want to pick the chard when it’s young and tender for optimum flavor and texture. However, you should be sure to leave at least 2/3 of the plant to keep it growing and producing throughout the season. If you’re growing chard for baby greens, harvest the entire plant when the baby leaves are about 4-6 inches tall.
For mature Swiss chard, wait until the leaves reach a full size of 6-8 inches and the stalks become thick and crunchy. Once the stems become fibrous, the leaves will become tough so make sure you pick the leaves before then.
Typically mid summer is when the plant is providing plenty of delicious leafy greens. If you’re trying to extend the harvest season for chard in your garden, consider succession planting. That way you can get an extended harvest with multiple harvests throughout the summer and fall.
Swiss Chard is very forgiving and has few pests or diseases. Make sure you inspect the plants regularly to make sure they are always health and delicious. Look out for signs of wilting and discoloration in the leaves.
In the late fall, the days shorten and temperatures drop. This is the time when the chard begins to form more attractive and colorful stalks, known as chards’ rainbow stems. When you’re ready to harvest, be sure to grab your basket and scissors and clip stems about 1 inch above the soil line.
Ultimately, when to harvest Swiss Chard will depend heavily on when you want to eat it. The earlier you pick, the sweeter, more tender, leafier, and more mild the flavor will be. If you wait too long, the leaves will have a bit less flavor and nutrition, and the stalks will become tough and fibrous. With a little knowledge of how to time it right, you can enjoy delicious and vitamin-packed greens from your own garden for months to come!