Tips on growing Swiss Chard.

[applestar]

I think you'd want them at least 12" apart, maybe even 18". The outer leaves flop over and crowd each other, so you want them to be far enough apart but close enough to provide good ground shade for living mulch (if you're growing in raised wide beds/blocks, that is. I guess row-growing folks always leave space on either side of the plant).

In my garden, during the summer humidity, the leaves pushing against each other tended to collect moisture and develop brown spots, which then attracted slugs (or it could be that the slugs were causing the brown spots). Anyway, I just want them to loosely support each other.

[scot29]

OK, if beets are a chard, can you eat beet leaves in addition to the root, or doesn't it work that way?

Yes, you can. Leave plenty of leaves behind though.

[rainbowgardener]

OK, if beets are a chard, can you eat beet leaves in addition to the root, or doesn't it work that way?

Yes, you can. Leave plenty of leaves behind though.

Sure, I always knew beet greens were good, even before I knew that it is really the same plant as chard.

[cynthia_h]

OK, if beets are a chard, can you eat beet leaves in addition to the root, or doesn't it work that way?

When I make borscht, I use the beet root and the beet leaves as well (plus onions, potatoes, chicken stock, dill, lemon juice, salt, and yogurt).

So...yes, you can def. eat the leaves!

Cynthia

[DoubleDogFarm]

Garden5,

Yes, you can eat beet tops. When you thin out your beets, wash and eat the whole thing.

Spacing on chard, 4" to 6" is what I thin to.

[Gardening Gifts]

Replying to the eating chard posting...lightly steamed and smothered in butter with a sprinkling of black pepper always works for me! I've always found this easy to grow, in fact it won't stop coming...love the stuff.

[garden5]

Thanks for the conclusion on the spacing and whether or not to eat the beet leaves. It looks like it won't just be the deer who start eating the beet greens this year.

[SarahSarah]

OK, if beets are a chard, can you eat beet leaves in addition to the root, or doesn't it work that way?

When I make borscht, I use the beet root and the beet leaves as well (plus onions, potatoes, chicken stock, dill, lemon juice, salt, and yogurt).

So...yes, you can def. eat the leaves!

Cynthia

Your Borscht sounds delicious. Do you mind posting the recipe in the recipes forum?

[cynthia_h]

It's pretty much the one from Laurel's Kitchen, except that I use chicken stock where she uses veggie stock.

Cynthia

[jal_ut]

OK, if beets are a chard, can you eat beet leaves in addition to the root,

Yes, you can eat the beet greens. I think they are better than chard.