Chard is a biennial plant. Leaves and stems can be harvested in the first year until late autumn. In the second year, the chard produces fresh green leaves a second time between March and May. The prerequisite for this is the correct overwintering of the hardy plant outdoors.
How do I overwinter chard correctly?
To overwinter chard properly, cut the plant hand-width above the ground and cover it with brushwood, mulch or horn shavings. Additionally cover the bucket chard with jute or fleece. In the spring, remove the cover for fresh growth.
Warm winter quarters for chard unnecessary
Chard is hardy and can usually survive double-digit temperatures below zero. This means that it is not necessary to move to warm winter quarters. Wrapped up warm, even the potted chard can be left outside. The chard plants in the bed get a warm blanket.
This is what you need:
- Mulch, brushwood or horn shavings
- Jute, fleece, old sacks
Properly covered, the chard will sprout again quickly in spring
If the chard has been harvested by late autumn, any leaves that may still be standing are cut off a hand's width above the ground. The plants are given a covering of brushwood, mulch or horn shavings. They serve as protection against long-lasting frost and moisture.
From the end of February/beginning of March, the chard is covered again depending on the frost conditions. In the meantime, mulch and horn shavings have supplied the soil with nutrients. Now it sprouts again quickly and you can harvest it as an early garden vegetable from the end of March to the beginning of May.
Once the chard begins to bloom, it becomes inedible. Now you can use it to obtain seeds or undermine it.
Protection for potted chard
Even in the pot, the roots of the chard must be protected from prolonged frost. Just like outdoors, the plant is cut down and covered with brushwood. You can also cover the bucket with jute, fleece or a sack.
Which overwinters better – leaf chard or stem chard?
Leaf chard is less sensitive to frost than stem chard. With a protected location and careful covering, the stalked chard also has a good chance of overwintering. Especially in relatively frost-free locations, wintering is worth a try. Especially since brushwood and mulch hardly cost anything.
Tips & Tricks
Do you want to harvest chard throughout the winter? This works if the plants are covered with warming fleece.
