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 Fordhook Giant Chard

 

Grow a productive supply of dark green leafy vegetables with Mai’s Family Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard Seeds.

Fordhook Giant is a classic heirloom, Non-GMO variety recognized for its large, deeply savoyed dark green leaves, broad white stems and contrasting white veins.

This dependable leafy vegetable may be grown in traditional gardens, raised beds or large outdoor containers. Harvest young leaves for baby greens or allow the plants to mature for larger leaves and substantial white stalks.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

• Classic Fordhook Giant heirloom variety
• Non-GMO vegetable seeds
• Large, dark green, heavily savoyed leaves
• Broad white stems and white leaf veins
• Upright plants commonly reach 22–27 inches tall
• Baby leaves may be harvested in approximately 25 days
• Mature leaves are generally ready in approximately 50–58 days
• Suitable for repeated outer-leaf harvesting
• Tolerates both cool conditions and summer warmth
• Suitable for gardens, raised beds and outdoor containers
• Full sun to partial shade
• Spring, summer and fall harvesting

PLANT PROFILE

Common Name: Swiss Chard
Variety: Fordhook Giant
Botanical Name: Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Plant Family: Amaranthaceae
Life Cycle: Botanically biennial; normally cultivated as an annual vegetable
Growth Habit: Upright
Leaf Color: Dark Green
Stem Color: White
Leaf Texture: Thick and Savoyed
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Needs: Moderate
Soil Preference: Fertile and Well-Drained
Preferred Soil pH: Approximately 6.0–7.0
Container Suitable: Yes

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Choose a garden, raised bed or outdoor container with good drainage.
  2. Sow seeds approximately 1/4–1/2 inch deep.
  3. Keep the soil consistently moist during germination.
  4. Thin seedlings to approximately 6–12 inches apart.
  5. Allow approximately 18–30 inches between traditional garden rows.
  6. Grow in full sun or partial shade.
  7. Maintain regular moisture for tender leaves and steady production.

Swiss chard may be started indoors approximately 5–6 weeks before transplanting. It may also be direct-sown outdoors in early spring or planted in late summer for a fall harvest.

IMPORTANT GERMINATION INFORMATION

Swiss chard seed is naturally a clustered fruit commonly called a seed ball. Each seed ball may contain several embryos and can produce more than one seedling.

Multiple seedlings emerging from a single planted seed ball are normal. Thin crowded seedlings after emergence so the strongest plants have sufficient growing space.

HARVESTING

Baby leaves may be harvested when they reach a usable size, commonly around 25 days after planting.

Mature leaves are generally ready in approximately 50–58 days, depending on temperature, sunlight, soil fertility and growing conditions.

For repeated harvesting, remove the largest outer leaves near the base while leaving the central growing point intact. Younger center leaves can then continue developing.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

• One packet of Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard seeds
• Heirloom, Non-GMO variety
• Seeds only
• Live plants, soil, pots and gardening supplies are not included

NATURAL SEED NOTICE

Germination and plant performance depend on temperature, moisture, planting depth, soil quality, sunlight, seed storage and individual growing practices.

Because Swiss chard seeds are naturally multi-embryo seed balls, the number of seedlings produced may differ from the number of seed balls planted. Germination of every individual seed ball cannot be guaranteed.