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Varieties
Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, Rhubarb Chard, Rhubarb Red, Ruby
Soil Preferences
Well-drained, clay loam; will tolerate wide range of loamy soils with pH range of 6.5 - 7.5.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Cool dry conditions; 60-75°F days, 40-45°F nights.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded or transplanted |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Soil temperature < 100°F in seed zone and/or day time air temperature < 95°F |
| Seeding rate | 6-8 lbs/acre (high seeding rate when planting in high temperature soils |
| Approx seed/oz | 1,600 |
| Seeding depth | 0.25 - 0.5" |
| Seedling spacing | Double plant rows on 38-40" raised beds with 4-6" in-row spacing Direct seeded - 6-8 seed/row foot and thin to 6-12" apart Transplant - 6-12" apart and 24-36" between plant rows |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 120 - 75- 80 lb/acre | |
| N* | 100-150 lbs 75-100 lbs preplant 20-30 lbs after each cutting (use tissue analysis to determine supplemental N rates) |
|---|---|
| P | 75-100 lbs banded 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 70-100 lbs (not normally needed in most spinach production areas of Texas) |
Water/Irrigation
Low to moderate demand (10-15"). If soil moisture low, irrigate after each cutting. Overhead sprinkler irrigation not advisable as it increases the incidence of foliar diseases.Pest Management
Swiss Chard Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Damping off (Pythium) | thiram, fludioxonil, | |
| Downy Mildew | azoxystrobin, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, mandpropamid, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Leaf spots | neem oil, | |
| Powdery mildew | azoxystrobin, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, pyraclostrobin, triflumizole, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, sulfur, |
Swiss Chard Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Dimethoate, Imidacloprid, Naled, Permethrin, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, neem oil, Peppermint and rosemary oil, Pyrethrins |
| Armyworms | Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Flubendiamide, Naled, Spinetoram, Thiodicarb, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Flea Beetle | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Dinotefuran, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Kaolin, Pyrethrins, |
| Leafminer | Cyromazine, Dimethoate, Dinotefuran, Naled, Permethrin, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Webworm | Malathion | Pyrethrins |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | Metam-potassium, Metam-sodium | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | oxyfluorfen, Pelargonic acid | |
| Postemergence | Carfentrazone-ethyl, clethodim, Glyphosate, Pyraflufen ethyl, sethoxydim | cinnamon and clove oil, clove oil, d-limonene |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 50-60 days |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand |
| Containers | None specified |
| Packaging/Handling | None specified |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 150 hundred weight per acre |
Transit Conditions
32°F at 95-100% RH; shelf-life 10-14 days.Comments/Production Keys
- Raised beds suggested, cannot tolerate water logged soil
- High soil temperatures (95°F + in seed zone) can cause heat induced dormancy and subsequent stand reduction
- High air temperature (80°F +) tends to reduce leaf body, thickness, soluble solids and color
- Excessive plant populations can cause poor leaf/stem ratio (critical for processing quality) and early bolting
- Delayed insecticide applications for aphid control avoids killing beneficial insects (no aphid control obtainable with insecticides)
- If Gibberellic acid (ProGib) is used as a harvest aid, cease use by February 1 (later use enhances bolting rate)
- Bolting induced by long days (14+ hrs) following cold temperatures
- Immediate crop destruction upon crop termination and 3-5 year rotation essential to reduce white rust/blue mold inoculum levels