When to plant Swiss chard in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States

Swiss chard can be planted after April 29, when air temperature is consistently in a range between 20°F and 80°F and soil temperature is above 45°F.

Growing Swiss chard in Hamilton County

Swiss chard needs on average between 50 and 60 days to mature and produce harvest.

Hamilton County has 2 distinct seasons suitable for growing Swiss chard

• April 29 to July 03

  Swiss chard needs on average between 50 and 60 days to mature and produce harvest. With 66 suitable for growht, you can expect good harvest without too much effort if all planting activities are done in timely manner.

• August 25 to October 16

  This Swiss chard growing season in Hamilton County is quite short, with only 53 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

Planting Swiss chard in Hamilton County before April 29 without any additional protection is not advised because cold streaks can damage or kill off young plant.

Growing season extention

In order to maximize chances for a good harvest of Swiss chard in Hamilton County, some extra steps can be taken to extend growing season.

Start seeds indoors

When starting seeds indoors, it is possible to guarantee best possible conditions for young seedlings. Consistent temperature range, adequate watering and ample light (natural, supplemented with artifitial grow lights) will ensure you have strong and healthy seedlings just in time for transplanting into soil.

It takes 42 days on average for Swiss chard to sprout, and grow big enough to be ready for transplanting.

Hamilton County has 3 distinct seasons for growing Swiss chard

• In order to get plants ready for April 29 seeds should be started indoors bwetween March 18 and May 04

  Seeds started after May 04 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  Swiss chard needs on average between 50 and 60 days to mature and produce harvest. With 66 suitable for growth, you can expect good harvest without too much effort if all planting activities are done in timely manner.

• In order to get plants ready for July 29 seeds should be started indoors bwetween June 17 and June 24

  Seeds started after June 24 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  This Swiss chard growing season in Hamilton County is quite short, with only 26 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

• In order to get plants ready for August 25 seeds should be started indoors bwetween July 14 and August 17

  Seeds started after August 17 are not likely to mature and produce harvest.

  This Swiss chard growing season in Hamilton County is quite short, with only 53 days suitable for growth so it is really important to time your planting activities, and choose varieties with shorter time to harvest requirements.

Use a cold frame

When using a cold frame in a beggining of growing season You can protect young plants from possible temperature drops, this way growing season can start up to 2 weeks earlier.

Use an additional shading

On days, when air temperatures are expected to raise above 80°F, which is in top of tolerable range for Swiss chard, consider using additional shading to prevent heat shock.

Table with days suitable to grow vegetables in Hamilton County, Iowa