1.Sowing & Germination

Swiss Chard seeds are actually "seed balls" or clusters, meaning each "seed" you plant will likely produce 2 to 3 sprouts.When to Plant:Spring: Direct sow 2–3 weeks before the last frost.

• →Fall: Sow in late summer for a crop that thrives in the cooling autumn air.
• →Sowing Method: Direct Sow is easiest, though chard transplants better than its cousin, the beet.
• →Sowing Depth: 1/2 inch deep.
• →Spacing: Space seeds 2 inches apart. Once they are 3 inches tall, thin to 10–12 inches apart. Because Fordhook is a "Giant" variety, it needs significant space to reach its full size.
• →Germination Time: 7–14 days. To speed things up, soak the seeds in water for 12–24 hours before planting.

2.Growing & Care

• →Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist. If chard gets too dry, the leaves can become tough and the stalks may get "stringy." Aim for 1 inch of water per week.
• →Feeding: Since you are harvesting the foliage, chard loves nitrogen. A mid-season side-dressing of compost or a liquid organic fertilizer will keep the plants producing new leaves rapidly.
• →Mulching: A layer of straw helps keep the soil moisture even and prevents soil from splashing into the deeply crinkled leaves.

3.Harvest

• →Days to Maturity: 30 Days (Baby); 55–65 Days (Full Size).The "Cut and Come Again" Method: This is the best way to harvest chard. Snip off the outermost leaves about 1–2 inches above the ground. As long as you don't damage the center "crown," the plant will keep producing new leaves from the middle all season long.
• →Size: Fordhook leaves can grow up to 2 feet tall! However, for the best flavor, harvest when leaves are between 10 and 15 inches long.
• →Method: Use a clean knife or garden snips. Pulling the stalks can accidentally uproot the whole plant.

4.In the Kitchen

• →Storage: Wrap in a damp paper towel and store in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• →Two-in-One Vegetable: Treat the leaves like spinach (sautéed or steamed) and the thick white stalks like asparagus or celery (braised or stir-fried).
• →Flavor Profile: Fordhook has a mild, earthy flavor similar to beets, but without the "dirt" aftertaste some people find in beet greens. It is much more tender than kale.