• Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard Seeds for your planting. Graines de bette à carde géante Fordhook pour votre plantation
  • Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard Heirloom Vegetable Garden. Fordhook Géant Bette à carde Héritage Potager.
  • Attractive appearance, often used in ornamental plantings. Aspect attrayant, souvent utilisé dans les plantations ornementales.
  • Cool season crop that prefers well-drained soil. Culture de saison fraîche qui préfère un sol bien drainé.
  • Enjoy a bountiful harvest of robust and flavorful greens. Profitez d’une récolte abondante de légumes verts robustes et savoureux
1 5

JNB Seed

Swiss Chard Seeds : Fordhook Giant Seeds

Swiss Chard Seeds : Fordhook Giant Seeds

$3.99 CAD
$3.99 CAD
Sale Sold out
Seed Count

Fordhook Swiss Chard is a classic green chard variety that can reach heights of up to 60 centimeters. It boasts large, crumpled green leaves adorned with prominent white veins and broad, 6.35-centimeter stems that resemble celery. The leaves are prized for their tender texture and juicy flavor. This variety typically reaches full maturity in 55 days, but it can also be harvested earlier to enjoy as baby leaf.

Introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1924, Fordhook Swiss chard has a rich history. Despite its name, Swiss chard traces its origins back to the Mediterranean region. Chefs, both professional and amateur, have long utilized it as salad greens or as a flavorful addition to soups and rice dishes. Its introduction to the United States was documented in The American Farmer magazine, where Baltimore farmer Gideon Smith shared his experimental cultivation of the vegetable. Although initially regarded as a curiosity, Swiss chard gradually gained popularity, particularly after the Civil War.

    How To Grow

    Sowing: Plant Fordhook Swiss chard directly in the soil approximately one week after the final spring frost, burying the seeds to a depth of about 1.3 centimeters in compost-enriched soil and ensuring they receive full sunlight. When planting for whole plant harvesting, space the seeds 10-12 centimeters apart. For continuous harvesting of the outer stalks, increase the spacing to 20-25 centimeters to allow for larger growth. To ensure a constant summer harvest, sow additional Fordhook Swiss chard seeds every fortnight. Germination typically occurs within about a week. Swiss chard can withstand light frosts and can be cultivated as a fall crop as well.

    Growing: Maintain consistent soil moisture and keep the planting area free from weeds by applying a layer of mulch. Adequate moisture is particularly crucial during the initial stages of seedling growth.

    Harvesting

    Harvesting: Harvest individual leaves for greens when they reach a height of 15-20 centimeters. If harvesting the entire plant, cut it at the soil surface, ensuring to leave about 2.54 centimeters of stem to encourage regrowth for another harvest. Alternatively, you can harvest outer stalks individually, allowing the heart of the plant to continue growing.





    Seed Saving

    Seed Preservation: To maintain the genetic integrity of Fordhook Swiss chard, ensure a separation of at least 3.2 kilometers (about 2 miles) from other chard and beet varieties due to wind pollination. Chard plants need to endure the winter to produce seeds. In regions with milder climates, simply mulch the plants during winter. However, in cooler climates, uproot the plants and store the roots in sand, ensuring they do not touch, in a cool and humid environment until early spring when they can be replanted. As spring approaches, the plants will begin to seed. Allow the seed heads to fully mature and dry on the plant before harvesting. Once dried, the Beta Vulgaris Cicla seeds can be easily removed from the stems. Store the seeds in a cool, dry location for up to five years to maintain their viability.

    Extra Facts

    Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard
    Planting Methods: Direct sow the Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard seeds in well-prepared soil or start indoors and transplant seedlings later.
    Blooming Season: Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard may bloom during its second year, typically in late spring to early summer.
    Planting Season: Plant Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard seeds in the garden after the last frost date in spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost.
    Latin Name/USDA Zones: Beta vulgaris var. cicla / USDA Zones 3-10.
    Sunlight Required/ Height: Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard thrives in full sun to partial shade and grows up to 60-90 centimeters tall.
    Shelf Life After Test Date: The shelf life of Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard seeds after the test date varies but can typically last for 2-3 years if stored properly.
    Seed Type: Open-pollinated seeds.
    Soil Type: Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard prefers well-draining loam soil but can tolerate clay or sandy soil types.

    View full details