Chard is a type of beet without root crops, which is used as ordinary greens. The culture cannot be called popular, it is rarely grown by our gardeners. We will find out what are the features of this leafy vegetable, how to plant it, grow it, and how to harvest a large crop.
Origin of culture
Beetroot - Swiss chard, is a subspecies of common beet. The homeland of culture is considered the South and the Center of the European continent.
The vegetable culture of chard is considered one of the most ancient. Scientists suggest that it was cultivated another 2 thousand years BC. e. Beet chard appeared as a result of folk selection. There is a version that the vegetable was obtained by artificial selection from ordinary beets.
In Russia, culture has been planted since the 16th century. Here it has long been called "beetroot."
Due to climate and soil changes, the plant evolved - the root crop was distributed in width, hard tissues acquired juiciness and fleshiness. Mangold, in fact, is the ancestor of beetroot, so these two cultures have similar agricultural technology.
Plant description
The culture belongs to the genus Beet from the Amaranth family, and develops in a two-year cycle. In the first year of life, a leaf rosette forms in the plant, and in the second year it blooms, forming seeds.
In appearance, Swiss chard resembles ordinary beet tops. It has inedible roots, only leaves and petioles are eaten.
Brief description of the plant:
- Leaves. Glossy, elongated, bubbly. They differ in the degree of curliness - depending on the variety.
- Stalks. Fleshy and strong. The color of the stems depends on the variety, they are bright yellow, silver, burgundy, green.
- Root. Elongated, cylindrical. The pulp is white or reddish. It has a solid structure and an unpleasant taste. By the end of the season, it grows to the size of a fist and acquires the same color as that of the petioles.
Beetroot characteristics:
- Chard's stems are tastier than leaves. They taste like rhubarb or celery.
- More cold-resistant than the table variety. Therefore, it can be sown earlier, and the crop removed until the frost.
- Productivity at industrial cultivation is 70-100 t / ha.
All varieties of beetroot are divided into two large groups:
- Petiole (stem). They have characteristic protruding veins. The leaves are small and the petioles are very thick and juicy. They can be used instead of asparagus.
To make the stems grow larger and thicker, gardeners resort to pruning leaves. - Leafy. These varieties have lush rosettes of large fleshy leaves. Such chards have a second name - roman cabbage. Able to replace salad, cabbage, spinach and other leafy vegetables in different dishes. The plant can overwinter in the soil, producing fresh leaves in early spring.
Pros and cons
When deciding whether to grow chard on their plot, gardeners should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this crop:
Pros of beetroot:
- ripens early;
- looks nice;
- tastes good;
- unpretentious;
- bears fruit for a long time;
- rich in vitamins and minerals;
- tolerates cold well;
- does not drain the soil;
- It is a favorable neighbor for other vegetable crops;
- tolerates adverse environmental influences;
- possesses high immunity;
- productive;
- contains a lot of proteins and pectin;
- low-calorie.
The only drawback of chard is the difficulty in harvesting for the winter. Frozen and pickled leaves and petioles have little resemblance to fresh product in taste and smell.
Popular chard varieties and their features
There are many varieties of leaf (salad) beets, which differ from each other in the color of the stems and the roughness of the leaves.
First of all, you should pay attention to the varieties:
- Early Mirage (41-42 days), Ruby (34-38 days), Scarlet (35-40 days), Pomegranate (32-41 days).
- Resistant to flowering. These are varieties Pomegranate, Ruby, Scarlet.
Popular varieties of leaf beets:
- Emerald. Compact plants with vertical rosettes and wide stalks. Plant height 30-45 cm. The leaves are light green. The yield of one bush is 1 kg of petioles and leaves. This is an early ripe variety with a vegetation period of 60 days.
- Scarlet. Hybrid resistant to flowering. Early ripe, the first harvest is ready in 35-40 days, reaches full ripening in 90 days. The rosette is spreading, the leaves are purple-green, bubbly, up to 60 cm long. The petioles are up to 25 cm long. The color is red. From 1 sq. 3-5 kg of leaves and petioles are collected, 10 kg in a greenhouse.
- Green. A late-ripening variety that ripens in 85-120 days. The outlet is semi-vertical. Plant height - up to 60 cm. Leaves are dark green, bubbly, glossy. Petioles are green, up to 25 cm long.
- Beauty. Hybrid variety with compact vertical rosettes. The leaves are large, dark green, the petioles are bright red. Length - 40-45 cm. The leaves are wavy, juicy and fleshy. Matures in 60 days. 0.8 kg of greenery is collected from one plant.
- Silver. The bushes are powerful, the leaves are fleshy, green. Petioles are silver-white. Leaves are curly-vesicular or smooth-wavy. The yield can reach 6 kg per 1 sq. m.
Growing conditions
Not only the amount of the crop depends on the growing conditions, but also its quality characteristics. The taste of the aboveground part is influenced by the composition of the soil, adherence to agricultural techniques, temperature, light and other factors.
Seat selection
Good yields of chard can only be obtained on fertile soils. On poor and heavy clay soils, chard leaves grow rough and tasteless.
What should be a plot for growing chard:
- Soil acidity from pH 6.
- Good illumination.
- Landing in lowlands where stagnation of water is observed is not allowed. The culture does not tolerate waterlogging.
When choosing a site, the rules of crop rotation are observed. Chard grows poorly after spinach.
Recommended predecessors:
- carrot;
- radish;
- legumes;
- Tomatoes
- cucumbers;
- potatoes;
- radish.
In one place, leaf beets are grown at intervals of 3-4 years.
Soil preparation
Prepare the soil for chard in the same way as for beets. The culture needs loose, permeable fertile soils. On poor soils, leaf beets lose their juiciness; its petioles become coarse and sinewy.
The soil is dug in the fall to a depth of 30 cm, introducing the following components:
- compost, peat, humus or other organic fertilizer - 4-5 kg per 1 sq. m;
- superphosphate - 20-25 g;
- potassium chloride - 15-20 g.
In heavy soils, dense and clayey, sand is added to loosen the structure.
Temperature regime and illumination
For a chard to produce many tasty leaves, it needs certain temperature conditions and the observance of light conditions.
Features of the temperature regime:
- optimal temperature for growth - from +16 to + 25 ° C;
- during flowering - from +20 to + 25 ° C;
- if the culture is provided with good watering, it can grow normally even at + 35 ° C;
- seeds germinate at + 6 .... + 7 ° C;
- young plants, being in phase 3-4 of these leaves, are able to tolerate low temperatures up to -3 ° C.
Mangold does not require special lighting. This plant grows well both in lighted areas and in small shade.
When planting a culture in partial shade, one must take into account the following points:
- with a lack of sunlight, a lot of nitrates accumulate in the leaves of chard;
- prolonged shading leads to slower growth and shrinkage of leaves.
Planting beetroot
Chard can be grown in different ways. We learn how and when to plant leaf beets.
Timing
Mangold is a cold-resistant crop that gives early greens. The first leaf beet crop is harvested when other green vegetables have not yet grown.
To always have a leaf beet crop, it is sown three times:
- in the beginning of May;
- in July;
- at the end of October.
More accurate sowing dates depend on the variety and climatic characteristics of the region. The main condition for sowing seeds is heating the soil to + 5 ° C.
In the south of the country, seeds are sown 2-3 weeks earlier than in other regions. In areas with cool and short summers, it is recommended to use seedling or greenhouse growing method.
Spring sowing technology
Before sowing seeds in the ground in spring, they are soaked in warm water (+ 40 ° C). After 2 days, the seeds are ready for planting. Instead of water, you can use a biostimulator, for example, "Epin", the seeds are kept in it for 2 hours. Chard is planted in a row method.
How to plant leaf beets:
- Make small grooves in the beds. The spacing between adjacent furrows depends on the type of beet:
- for petiole varieties - from 35 to 50 cm;
- for leafy - 20-30 cm.
- Arrange the germinated seeds along the grooves. The distance between adjacent seeds is from 2 to 5 cm.
- Sprinkle the seeds with soil. Layer thickness - 3-4 cm.
For sowing 1 sq. m need 1-1.5 g of seeds.
Sowing in the winter
Chard can be sown before winter. This method of growing is practiced in regions characterized by short winters and mild frosts.
Features of winter sowing:
- Prepare the furrows for sowing in advance.
- Prepare a bucket of dry soil and leave it in a warm room.
- Wait for the frost. Sow seeds in the frozen soil. Spread them out along the grooves at intervals of 2-5 cm. The seeding pattern is the same as for spring sowing.
- Cover the seeds with prepared soil - dry and warm.
- Shoots appear in early spring, and if there is a threat of frost, it is recommended to cover them.
Seedling method
The seedling growing method is practiced in regions with long winters and short, cool summers. The crop obtained through seedlings is harvested a month earlier than when sowing on the beds.
Growing chard by seedling method:
- Sow seeds for seedlings in March or early April. Sow the seeds in a purchased substrate or in garden soil. Sow thinly so that the seedlings do not interfere with each other. The distance between adjacent seeds is 2-3 cm.
- Cover crops with transparent material and place in a warm place. Shoots will appear in 4-5 days.
- Move the seedlings closer to the light. The optimum temperature for seedlings is from +13 to + 15 ° C.
- Thin seedlings once, leaving 7 cm intervals between seedlings.
- After 30-35 days after sowing, the seedlings will have 2-3 real leaves, transplant them in open ground according to the same scheme as when sowing in open ground - 40-50 × 20-30 cm.
Care rules
Beetroot does not require difficult maintenance, it is a hardy and unpretentious plant. The gardener's task is to create such conditions for her so that the harvest is not only abundant, but also with excellent taste characteristics.
Thinning
Several sprouts grow from each seed, so the planting has to be thinned out several times. Chard thickening is unacceptable. Plants growing close to each other do not develop well, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.
Features of thinning beet:
- During the season, several thinning is carried out.
- All weak shoots are subject to removal. Also, shoots that have sprouted later than others are removed.
- The result of thinning should be the distance between neighboring plants:
- in petiolate varieties - 40 cm;
- in leafy varieties - 15 cm.
Watering
Beetroot is a moisture-loving crop that slows down growth and development when there is a lack of moisture.
Features of irrigation chard:
- Watering frequency is once every 2 days.
- In drought, watering becomes more frequent, as water scarcity leads to wilting of leaves.
- The crop is especially demanding from sowing to sprouting.
- To retain moisture, the soil is mulched.
- When watering beets, it is important to maintain a balance - chard reacts equally negatively to drought and stagnant water.
Loosening and weeding
After watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil, simultaneously tearing out weed vegetation. The soil is loosened with a rake, the direction of travel is across the rows. Loosening, improving aeration, prevents the development of many diseases.
To prevent weed growth and slow moisture loss, the soil is mulched with peat or humus.
Top dressing
The culture is responsive to feeding. The bulk of fertilizers are applied before sowing or planting seedlings.
Fertilizers are applied:
- during growth;
- at the stage of cutting leaves and petioles.
Chard can be fed:
- diluted mullein (1: 5);
- herbal infusion;
- urea (10 g per 10 l).
When growing chard, it is not recommended to make mineral fertilizers, since nitrates are actively accumulated in the leaves.
Growing chard at home
Leaf beets can be grown not only in gardens or in greenhouses, but also in pots placed on a balcony or on a windowsill.
Features of growing at home:
- The culture is planted in pots or boxes with a height of 15 cm.
- A special substrate is used for planting - it already contains the entire set of nutrients.
- To further enrich the soil, organic matter can be added. The addition of charcoal is also recommended.
- Seeds are prepared for planting in the usual way, soaking for 2 days.
- Sowing is carried out in early May.
Disembarkation Procedure:
- Pour hot water over the soil in pots - it is necessary for the soil to warm up.
- Make 2 cm deep furrows in the soil.
- Spread the seeds in the grooves. The interval between adjacent seeds is 12-15 cm.
- Sprinkle with soil and lightly compact it.
Care rules:
- The main thing in care is lighting, watering and loosening. Optimum temperature - from +16 to + 22 ° C.
- Water the plants abundantly and loosen them after each watering. Use only settled water. Until shoots appear, water the crops with warm water once every 2 days.
- Apply complex mineral fertilizers to the soil every two weeks.
- In winter, put pots with beets closer to the light.
- If chard grows on the balcony and the temperature drops below 0 ° C, cover the crops with plastic wrap.
The first leaves are cut in a month and a half. The yield of chard grown in pots is much lower than when grown outdoors.
Reproduction
The culture is propagated by seeds. Testes are formed in the second year of plant life.
How to prepare seeds:
- cut ripened testes;
- hang to dry under a canopy;
- when the seeds are fully ripe, remove them from the testes;
- Divide the seeds into paper bags and store in a dark, dry place.
Major diseases and pests
Beetroot has strong immunity and usually does not cause problems, but under unfavorable conditions it can be affected by diseases and pests.
The most common Swiss chard diseases:
- Cercosporosis. This fungal disease affects the leaves - gray spots with a purple border appear on them. Treatment consists in spraying with Bordeaux liquid 1% or "Topsin" 70%.
- Powdery mildew. It affects the underside of the leaves - a white bloom appears on it. Fungicides are used for treatment.
- Blackleg. Leaves fade, stems turn black, roots dry. Often leads to the death of plants. Prevention helps - cleaning and disinfection of beds, observing the irrigation regime.
The main pests:
- beet aphid;
- wireworm;
- beet flea;
- slugs;
- ticks and caterpillars.
They fight pests mainly through prevention - compliance with crop rotation and agricultural technology. It is not recommended to process greens with insecticides, if pests attack plants, it is better to use biological agents.
Harvesting and storage
Harvest succulent leaves harvested as they ripen. Leaves are cut several times during the season.
Features of the collection:
- The first leaves are cut 8-10 weeks after germination. Young leaves are tastier than old ones.
- Harvesting begins when 8-10 leaves appear on the plant.
- Leaves are cut regularly, choosing the largest and most beautiful.
- Each sheet is torn apart, twisting and pulling up. Cutting leaves with a knife is not worth it - a lot of juice will flow out.
Storage Features:
- Leaves and petioles do not store for a long time. At optimum temperature (0 ° C) and humidity (up to 90%) they are stored for only a few days.
- Vegetables are stored in the refrigerator, packed in bags, or in the basement - in containers with soil.
- Chard can be frozen. To do this, washed leaves are cut and packaged in plastic bags.
- Before the start of frost, the plants are dug up together with the root, the foliage is torn off and dug in the ground - in the basement or in the greenhouse.
Chard Application
Beetroot is usually consumed fresh, but it is also widely used in cooking.
Cooking Application:
- Salads, appetizers, soups are prepared, fermented alone or together with cabbage.
- Young leaves are fried and stewed, the stalks are steamed. Delicious cabbage rolls are made from leaves.
Application in traditional medicine and cosmetology:
- Decoctions are prepared from burns, frostbite and abscesses.
- Leaves, crushed into slurry, are applied to the eyes. Foliage contains substances that prevent cataracts.
- Juice helps with toothache, freckles and warts.
- Make moisturizing and nourishing face masks and stimulate hair growth.
Reviews
Ekaterina T., 56 years old, housewife, Lipetsk region I have been growing leaf beets on the site for many years. I really like the taste of the leaves, add them to salads, cook beetroots. There are practically no pests on it, for 5 years I saw once an aphid, which I quickly expelled with a soap solution.
Roman Sh., 60 years old, amateur gardener, Novosibirsk region I grow chard in a greenhouse like ordinary beets. The vegetable is very demanding on watering, but otherwise the care is very simple. The taste of the leaves is excellent, I use them for cooking green borsch.
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Growing chard, you can provide yourself with early vitamin greens without unnecessary efforts. Properly caring for the crop, you can cut the leaves from June to the very frosts.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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