Frail is a good word. I always found it a hassle dealing with the clump of seedlings. Now I buy transplants. Much easier!

I grow some swiss chard every year both for eating and to use as decorative foliage in the flower garden containers. Never had any trouble. I plant in mid April here in coastal MA and by early May, it pops up. It is slow. Just remember where you planted it as it takes its time about germinating. I find that it transplants without too many problems. I always decide that I planted it in the wrong place and so it always gets transplanted. LOL.
Victor

Victor, it does transplant well. Down here it grows fall-spring and I inevitably end up moving some in March to make way for the tomato plants.

Swiss chard starts up slowly for me too. I usually start the seeds in small seedling trays. Once it's established, then it shoots up too fast.

Someone mentioned on this forum that light fertilization after a few true leaf seems to work. So it may help in your case especially when they're among competition.

I've had good luck with swiss chard. I usually grow them inside and transplant them to the garden. I agree that maybe they're getting beat out by established plants. If you've tried twice with the same packet of seeds with poor results. Try another packet. They're fairly easy to grow. If you allow them to stay in your garden, they'll flower and produce seed and self-sow. Good luck!

Yes, the seedlings start frail and it take a while to get established. I planted some that were to close. After a while I dug them up and replanted at proper spacing. No problem. When you want to transplant(any seedling)You water them real well(let them get what they need, food water), then separate them and transplant them. AGAIN, right away, water them real well.
I like redish swiss chards. In fact I prefer their texture and flavor over spinach.

I've planted chard for 7? yrs now. Initially in Sacramento where they would grow pretty much year round. I had a plant that was 4yrs old in the corner of the garden...just to see what it would do!
My seedlings did just fine, grown in the ground or containers, here or in KC, MO. I have a ton of various chard that were planted 2 weeks ago & are now 1" tall & thriving.

When they finally succeed they are quite impressive aren't they?

I wanted them to provide some green in front of sunflowers and hollyhock where the lower leaves sometimes die off and get ugly and the chard worked beyond my wildest expectation.

BTW, I think, I am not sure but I think, that seed planted deeper produce cotyledons and seedlings that are less frail than the more shallow plantings.

YUMMMM Swiss Chard ;-)

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Jon, what in the world do you do with all that chard?

The white-stemmed chard is much hardier than the colored ones. But they're not as pretty!

Jon, you are doing a wonderful job!

Sue

Goldfinches love chard. They peck big holes in it. I lost a number of plants before I figured out what was going on. Now they are under row cover.

Jon, what a generous thing for you to do ... but don't you grow for your family too?

Sue, I've never noticed a difference. They both do equally well in my garden, although I definitely prefer the colors.

Hi Natal,
All of my kids:
2 Bio
3 Adopted
37 Fostered
are all grown up and moved away (WHEW ;-)

The Mrs. and I do partake of the Delicious harvests (I am making Egg Plant Parmesan tonight ;-)

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