I just found Swiss Chard, I visisted a new friend and she had very many Swiss Chard plants in containers around her patio, there were so many I wondered what she would do with them. She enjoys giving them away, she was cutting them already. I will be getting some in a few days when I visit again. I went right home and planted some of my own and they are doing just fine in my containers. So it is basically never too late and I believe just about anything can be grown in containers in fact that is my "thing" this year, I have over a twenty containers on my deck just to see what grows well. I even have betternut squash in one and I have beautiful squash.

I don't know what Swiss chard tastes like, but I tried to grow them for about for 3 years and they did even worse. The beets were planted after the chard, but the heavy flood rains killed one sprout every day, I have about 8 left and put in new seed, only see 2 sprouts. Same with spinach, I put in new sprouts when the seed didn't take, one by one, I'm down to 6 plants and replanted around them, no sprouts yet, but it may come. My ph is high, I added sulfur to the front half that is going great, but the back isn't in yet. I just planted a few corn seeds, about 24 and need to put more of them out. Couldn't get anything done in the rain, very very rainy season for Tennessee. Why is it the good stuff like squash and pumpkins, cucumbers, they do great, easy to grow, more of a favorite to eat, but those terrible greens most people don't even like, won't grow? I'm going to plant mustards this week, they are great growers and seem to do better in my soil. They do good every year! They are not good raw, the guinea pig doesn't like them as much. My leaf lettuce is doing good, it's a green although most are the reddish burgundy types. They grew better than the turnips, the turnips are doing a little bit of disappearing act as well and not sprouting so fast. Well, they needed to be hilled is what I'm going to guess and I can do that very easily. Maybe the spinach does too? What about chard? Does it need to be hilled to? Thanks for the replies and your pictures are making me jealous! I love pickled beets, sweet pickled, I don't eat them that often, but that was the goal for them, to pickle them. Maybe spinach under a big tree? They'll think they are hostas! LOL! Really the mustards were the best looking and growing of all the ones I've tried so far.

I came here looking for answers of this as well. Mine wilted and some type of inchworms were chewing leaves. They were much smaller than hookworms and almost a vibrant green color. Even after I removed them all on several plants in different pots in different properties, they all declined a slow and steady death. I assumed it was more due to it being 90+ here in Florida and a bunch of rain. Will Swiss Chard last the summer in a hot and wet environment here in Florida?

Okay I'm convinced! That looks so yummy. I love sauteed spinach with just a little salt pepper and barely a splash of really good vinegar but it sounds like chard blows spinach out of the water (or tugboat- sorry Popeye)but stuffed swiss chard leaves?! I am there. I love stuffed grape leaves and cabbage - dolmades or halupkees anyone? What a good idea Silvia. All of the other ideas are great as well. I really like threads featuring a certain veggie with recipes and hints and experiences growing them. I'm going to plant a couple of window boxes (like 8 x 18) this weekend with chard. Any recommendation on variety? I know HD sells Burpee's Bright Lights and another less colorful but more greens looking variety. I'm excited to see how it goes. As long as I can keep the squirels from digging them all out... :o)