Due to the fact that it is high in vitamins and antioxidants, Swiss chard is an excellent vegetable to include in your diet. If you enjoy spinach, you will most likely enjoy Swiss chard as well. Those who want to add it to their garden will find it simple to grow.
In this article, I’m going to look at the swiss chard growing problems. Let’s get started.
Swiss chard growing problems
Swiss chard is a vibrant vegetable in the Chenopod family, which also includes spinach, beets, and quinoa. This leafy vegetable originated in the Mediterranean and was named after a Mediterranean vegetable called cardoon. Cardoon is a plant that looks like celery and has thick stalks.
Swiss chard’s leafy portion is a dark green, while the stalk can be white, yellow, or red. If you buy it at a farmers market or an organic store, it may be labeled as “Rainbow chard.
” The “Rainbow” part of the name refers to the various colors of the stalks. In other words, it is Swiss chard, but the store or farmers market prefers to call it something more appealing in order to catch the buyer’s attention.
You can eat both the leaf and the stalk, but neither I nor my family enjoys the stalk. As the plant grows older, you can use the younger leaves in salads.
The leaves can be cooked after being chopped. When it comes to the flavor difference between spinach and Swiss chard, I prefer spinach. When cooked, the strong flavor of Swiss chard can be subdued with olive oil and spices.
Troubleshooting Swiss chard
Cercospora Leaf Spot
Cercospora leaf spot is a fungus that causes light brown spots on the leaves with purple halos. It will eventually turn the infected leaf brown and kill it.
This happens when there is rain and the leaves are close together. Remove diseased plants and thin the leaves to allow air to circulate freely through them.
Read also: Growing Swiss Chard In Raised Bed
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungus that causes powdery, gray-white mildew to appear on the upper surface of the leaves. This is usually caused by the plant absorbing too much moisture, whether from rain or watering.
The best solution is to thin out the leaves so that air can circulate around the plants.
Downy mildew appears as a fine powdery coating on the lower parts of the leaves. This fungus prefers moist, cool environments. Thus, remove the damaged leaves and then thin the leaves out to allow air to circulate.
Because this fungus spreads quickly, catching it early is critical. Copper dust or spray can be used. Copper dust or spray is not an insecticide and will not cause your plants to burn. However, it will solve your problem.
What’s the matter with my Swiss chard?
If your Swiss chard leaves have brown, water-soaked spots or the midrib of the leaves begins to look decayed, the plants are likely suffering from bacterial soft rot.
Read also: Does chard need full sun?
What causes Swiss chard blight?
Cercospora leaf spot, caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola, occurs throughout the Chenopodium group and is one of the most important diseases affecting the Chenopodium group.
How often should Swiss chard be watered?
Swiss chard, like all vegetables, benefits from a consistent supply of water. If it doesn’t rain, water regularly with 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
Conclusion
The best way to keep pests and diseases at bay is to keep your Swiss chard plants healthy from the time you plant the seed to the time you harvest the leaves.
