leafy · direct sow · beginner friendly
Swiss Chard: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating swiss chard a few times a week needs about 17 plants in ~20 sq ft, worth about $102 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 5 | ~6 sq ft | ~10 | ~$30 |
| 2 people | 9 | ~11 sq ft | ~17 | ~$54 |
| 4 people | 17 | ~20 sq ft | ~32 | ~$102 |
| 6 people | 25 | ~29 sq ft | ~47 | ~$150 |
Spacing
9" in row · 18" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
40 from transplant (55 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 21 – Jun 5 | Jun 15 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 16 – May 31 | Jun 25 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 6 – May 21 | Jul 5 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 27 – May 11 | Jul 15 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 7 | Mar 12 – Apr 26 | Jul 25 – Sep 9 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 1 – Apr 15 | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 27 – Mar 13 | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 7 – Feb 21 | Sep 14 – Oct 30 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Cut outer stalks at 8 to 10 inches an inch above the crown; the plant produces all season.
Yield
About 1.5 lbs per plant over ~14 productive weeks (~1.5 lb). Re-sow every ~30 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Leaf miners · Aphids · Flea beetles · Cercospora leaf spot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
19 kcal · 1.6 g fiber · 30 mg vitamin C · 379 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Swiss Chard planting questions
How many swiss chard plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 5 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 17 plants, which takes around 20 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does swiss chard need?+
Space plants 9" apart in the row with 18" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant swiss chard?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing swiss chard worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~1.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $102 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.