Fordhook Giant, Swiss Chard Seeds

Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard Seed

Large glossy leaves deliver savory traditional chard flavor
Vigorous growth makes a dependable garden standard
Broad white stems cook separately as a tender vegetable
Full-sized plants provide generous repeated harvests

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Beta vulgaris

Days to maturity

50 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

200 Seeds

About Fordhook Giant, Swiss Chard Seed, Swiss Chard Seed

Fordhook Giant is a popular standard for many home gardens. This variety is one of best tasting Swiss Chards! The Fordhook Giant grows to be a dark glossy green color with a deeply savory leaf.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

5–14 days

In-row plant spacing

6-12"

Row Spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Maturity

Spring, Summer, Fall

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

30 inches

Growth Habits

Rosette, Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

1,438

Color

Green

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Growing Season

Cool-Season Crop

Before Planting

Swiss Chard grows best in a full-sun location in cool weather or light afternoon shade in warmer conditions, with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Work in compost and prepare a fine, level, weed-free seedbed. Plan dependable irrigation and avoid fresh manure or excessive nitrogen immediately before planting.

Planting

Plant Swiss chard seed outdoors during cool weather, beginning when the soil is workable. Keep the upper soil evenly moist until emergence, and provide light shade if warm conditions threaten germination. Thin Swiss chard to 4–6 inches for baby harvests or 8–12 inches for mature plants. Make small succession sowings every 1–3 weeks while temperatures remain suitable.

Watering

Maintain consistently moist soil so Swiss chard leaves remain tender and mild. Water at the root zone whenever the upper soil begins drying, avoiding drought stress, saturation, and frequent wet foliage.

Fertilizer

Apply a light nitrogen-rich feeding after Swiss chard establishes if growth is pale or slow. Follow soil-test guidance and avoid overfertilizing, which causes tender, weak, or bitter growth.

Harvesting

Harvest outer Swiss chard leaves when tender and usable, leaving the growing center intact for regrowth. Pick during the cool morning and cut whole plants before bolting, toughness, or declining flavor.

Tips

Make small succession sowings of Swiss chard and use shade cloth as weather warms. Harvest outer leaves often, and remove bolting plants before they become bitter or scatter unwanted seed.

AVG. Seeding Rate

Bunching: 1 oz./300', 3¼ oz./1,000', 4½ lb./acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 24" apart. Baby Leaf: 4,000 seeds/100', 1 oz./45'.

Pests & Diseases

Cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew, damping-off, and viruses affect Swiss chard. Use clean seed, rotate chard and beets together, and remove spotted leaves before lesions multiply. Keep irrigation off harvestable foliage and control beet-family volunteers that can preserve disease between crops.

Swiss chard leaves can be damaged by aphids, flea beetles, leafminers, slugs, and caterpillars. Inspect new growth, remove tunneled leaves, handpick larger pests, and protect seedlings with insect netting.