Fordhook Giant Organic Swiss Chard Seeds

Fordhook Giant is a popular standard for many home gardens. This variety is one of best tasting Swiss Chards! The Fordhook Giant grows to be a dark glossy green color with a deeply savory leaf. Certified Organic.

Plant Height: 12-28″

Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris

Seed Type: Seed

Additional Characteristics: Cool Season Vegetables

Seeds Per Gram: 87

Seeds Per Pound: 39,500

Row Spacing: 12-18″

Packet: 200 Seeds

Sow Depth: 1/2″

Seeds Per Ounce: 2,469

Fruit Color: Green

Breed: Open-pollinated

Sun: Full Sun / Partial Shade

Life Cycle: Annual

Sow Method: Transplant

Plant Spacing: 4″

Categories: Swiss Chard

Days To Maturity (# Days): 50

Organic: Organic

Heirloom: Heirloom

Seeds Per Acre: 3 lbs

Growing Instructions

Swiss chard is another way to eat nutrient-rich, leafy greens. Chard is a member of the beet family, just without the bulb, and it comes in a variety of different hues. The color does not affect the taste of the Swiss chard.

Before Planting:Soil pH should be between 6-7. Cool and mild weather is preferred, though chard has some heat tolerance. Germinate seed between 70-85F. Seedlings will tolerate light frosts, and mature plants are hardy to moderate frosts. It may overwinter in mild areas.

Planting:Sow beginning mid-spring and on into midsummer (fall where winter is mild). Sow seed in a cold frame or indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting out after heavy frosts become infrequent. Sow seeds deep, 2 seeds per cell, remove weakest plant when true leaves appear. Transplant out 4 apart in rows 12-18 apart. For Bunching, sow about 4-6 seeds/ft., deep, rows 1824 apart. Thin to 2-3 plants per foot. Cut for bunching at any stage and new leaves will continue to form. For Salad Mix, sow every .5-1, 12-24 seeds/ft. Clip in about 4-5 weeks for tender baby greens.

Watering:water moderately. If the plant doesnt receive enough water, it may become bitter to the taste.

Fertilizer:Mulch with grass clippings or compost to add extra nutrients to the plants growth.

Days to Maturity:Swiss chard grows fast, and it is usually ready to harvest four to six weeks after planting.

Harvesting:Clip mature leaves individually for home garden or for bunching for market. New leaves will grow back for multiple harvests. For baby leaf, clip young plants just above the soil. Plants will grow back for multiple harvest.

Tips:Once a leaf is cut, a new one grows in its place.

Bunching Seed Rate:1 oz./300, 3 oz./1,000, 4 lb./acre at 6 seeds/ft. in rows 24 apart.

Baby Leaf Seed Rate:1 oz/45, 1 lb./1,000, 39 lb./acre at 40 seeds/ft. in rows 18 apart.