Swiss Chard is grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 55 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11. Once it comes in, a single planting keeps producing for much of the season, so you harvest over time rather than all at once.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
55
Score Swiss Chard on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether swiss chard actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score swiss chard against your land's real conditions.
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What Swiss Chard is
Swiss Chard reaches around a foot and a half at maturity.
How to grow Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 55 days after planting. Swiss Chard does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 700 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 160 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
39.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
55 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
700+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
160+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant swiss chard in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Swiss Chard prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Swiss Chard is ready about 55 days after sowing (University Extension production guides). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — swiss chard isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Swiss Chard isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Swiss Chard thrives
On hardiness alone, swiss chard grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Swiss Chard growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Swiss Chard can grow in these states:
See if Swiss Chard will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether swiss chard actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Swiss Chard in my zone?
Swiss Chard grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Swiss Chard take to grow?
Swiss Chard is ready to harvest about 55 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Swiss Chard?
Most growers plant swiss chard after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 160-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Swiss Chard need?
Swiss Chard needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Swiss Chard need?
Swiss Chard prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Swiss Chard attract pollinators?
Swiss Chard isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Swiss Chard safe for pets?
Swiss Chard is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.