Warm winter quarters are unnecessary for Swiss chard
Chard is hardy and usually withstands double-digit minus temperatures. Moving to warm winter quarters is therefore not necessary. Even the bucket of chard can be left outside when wrapped up warm. The chard plants in the bed get a warm blanket.
also read
- Growing dates for Swiss chard
- Sow the Swiss chard outdoors
- Harvesting Swiss chard from summer to spring - this is how it works
You need that:
- Mulch, (€ 99.99 at Amazon *) brushwood or horn shavings
- Jute, fleece, old sacks
If properly covered, the chard sprouts quickly in spring
If the chard has been harvested by late autumn, any standing leaves are now cut off a hand's breadth above the ground. The plants get a blanket of brushwood, mulch or horn shavings. (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) They serve as protection against prolonged frost and moisture.
From the end of February / beginning of March, the chard is covered again, depending on the frost. Mulch and horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *) have provided the soil with nutrients in the meantime. Now it sprouts quickly and you can harvest it as an early garden vegetable from late March to early May.
If the chard begins to bloom, it becomes inedible. Now you can use it for seed extraction or undermine it.
Protection for buckets of chard
The roots of the chard must also be protected from prolonged frost in the bucket. Just like outdoors, the plant is cut down and covered with sticks. In addition, you cover the bucket with jute, fleece or a sack.
Who winters better - Swiss chard or long chard?
Chard leaf is less sensitive to frost than long-stem chard. In a protected location and carefully covered, the mangold also has a good chance of wintering. Wintering is worth a try, especially in relatively frost-free locations. Especially since brushwood and mulch hardly cause any costs.
Tips & Tricks
Do you want to harvest Swiss chard over the winter too? This works if the plants are covered with warming fleece.
