How do you sow your Chard?
Having often had fairly poor germination with direct sowing I'm wondering about using modules and planting out very small. I've heard it works for Beetroot, though I've never done it, so it should be the same.
Any experience to pass on?
Chard
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Hello Geoff
I use modules for Chard and it always works well - germination rates are excellent.
I also start beetroot and swedes in the same way - no problems. I have tried turnips also but this didn't work very well - germination was good but the resulting crop was poor.
John
I use modules for Chard and it always works well - germination rates are excellent.
I also start beetroot and swedes in the same way - no problems. I have tried turnips also but this didn't work very well - germination was good but the resulting crop was poor.
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
It doesn't seem to matter too much - usually at 4-5 leaf stage but once they got very root bound but soon recovered on planting out.
John
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
Hi Geoff,
I use both modules and direct sowing for genuine Swiss Chard.
For those that are to be for large plants I use modules. I also sow direct with quite close spacings and when seedlings are 4-6" high I begin to pull them, simply nipping the roots off, washing and then steaming the whole little plant. You would be amazed at the difference in taste twixt the two methods. I have never had any difficulty with germination.
I grow Beetroots using smaller modules and have absolutely no difficulties. I have not tried Swedes so may have a crack at it this year.
John,
I suspect that Turnips are too fast growing for modules and may resent even the slight disturbance caused with modules.
I now grow Radishes in modules on the outside benches covered with fleece. No slugs/snails and no Flea Beetles.
JB.
I use both modules and direct sowing for genuine Swiss Chard.
For those that are to be for large plants I use modules. I also sow direct with quite close spacings and when seedlings are 4-6" high I begin to pull them, simply nipping the roots off, washing and then steaming the whole little plant. You would be amazed at the difference in taste twixt the two methods. I have never had any difficulty with germination.
I grow Beetroots using smaller modules and have absolutely no difficulties. I have not tried Swedes so may have a crack at it this year.
John,
I suspect that Turnips are too fast growing for modules and may resent even the slight disturbance caused with modules.
I now grow Radishes in modules on the outside benches covered with fleece. No slugs/snails and no Flea Beetles.
JB.
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Primrose
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I always sow my chard direct into the soil but have found that it doesn't germinate well if sown before mid April as the seeds sulk in cold earth. My first seeds are peeking through now but I think there's no doubt that they would get off to a roaring start if I grew them in modules. Just don't have enough space for everything in my mini plastic greenhouse. I also think that the lighter consistency of seed compost rather than earth probably gives them a better start too.