Artificial Dried Flowers

Swiss chard is an often overlooked vegetable. Yet it's full of valuable vitamins and minerals, very versatile and full of great flavor. Try some Swiss chard in your garden this year using these six easy planting steps!

Chard prefers well-drained soil and moderate heat. So choose a place in full sun or partial shade in hot areas. The best soil is rich in organic material and nitrogen. I like to spade in fresh grass clippings before sowing the seed. Sow the seed directly in the ground using homemade seed tape or dropping the seeds in the soil (follow spacing according to seed packet instructions). The best time to plant is either early spring about two weeks before last frost date or in the fall. Thin the plants when they are about 6" tall, using the tender starts for your first delectable recipe! Leave about 8" to 10" between remaining plants. Mulch plants with organic matter, shredded paper, grass clippings or other material. At about 4 weeks, you also can start feeding the plants with fish fertilizer or another organic feed. Don't let the soil get too dry. Water thoroughly to keep the plants from flowering or bolting. Start harvesting the outer leaves when they are about 6" tall. Continue harvesting the outermost leaves through the season. One way I like to prepare Swiss chard is to saut freshly picked stalks and leaves along with chopped garlic in a small amount of olive oil. Merely saut until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with red pepper flakes, a little butter and salt.

Susan Gregory loves finding ways to increase the yield of her kitchen garden while reducing the effort. Learn about her easy gardening tips at