When Should You Plant Swiss Chard?
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GardenSays
Direct-sow Swiss chard plants outside Apr 21 – Apr 28 — they shrug off frost.
- Spring sowing
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
In Minneapolis, MN, the typical last frost lands around May 5, and Swiss chard plants are cold-hardy — so unlike tomatoes, you don't wait for frost to pass. Sow 7-14 days before the last frost: Apr 21 – Apr 28, as soon as soil is workable and around 40°F.
- This year's spring sowing window (Apr 21 – Apr 28) has passed — dates shown are for planning ahead.
Do this this week
- 1.Passed for this season — plan next spring: sow Apr 21 – Apr 28
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-16 · How we decide
Why
Sow a short row every 2 weeks inside the window for a steady harvest instead of one glut.
- Swiss chard plants germinate in cold soil (~40°F) and tolerate frost that would kill warm-season crops — waiting until after the last frost wastes their best growing weather.
- The 50% frost date is a planning midpoint — for hardy crops an early start risks little.
When this doesn't apply
- UMN gives a Minnesota calendar window (soil 40-50F, usually late April to early May) rather than a frost-relative figure; converted to a Minneapolis-relative estimate. Chard tolerates cold soil and light frost, and unlike spinach it keeps producing through summer heat as long as the soil doesn't dry out, picking back up strongly when cool fall weather returns.
- Cold, waterlogged soil rots seed — 'workable' means it crumbles in your hand, not mud.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. Direct-sow windowApr 21 – Apr 28Calculated result
Swiss chard is cold-hardy: sow outside 7-14 days before the last frost, once soil reaches ~40°F
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing spinach and Swiss chard in home gardens — Can be planted when soil temperatures reach 40-50F, usually late April to early May; tolerates cold soil and light frosts. Swiss chard does best in cooler weather; in summer its growth slows but it keeps growing as long as the soil doesn't dry out, then quickly develops many leaves again when cool weather returns in September. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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