Chard is a biennial which can usually be cropped for a prospicient season before run off in its second year . In meek climates the plant should crop right through the winter . Once through its early development , it survives well in urine - wise condition . If it is get to go dry in the first several months however , it will bolt at once . The nettled stalks taste something like edible asparagus , but milder and with more water . The plants like nitrogen rich soil with plenty of organic stuff . Sow from late spring to midsummer , and set germ 1″ or shallower in rows 2.5′ aside . Keep the young plant growing well with plenty of pee and melted fertilizer . Mulching will help .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and nicety pattern modify during the 24-hour interval . The western side of a sign of the zodiac may even be shady due to shadows cast by large trees or a social organisation from an adjacent prop . If you have just bought a new base or just start to garden in your older place , take sentence to map out Lord’s Day and shade throughout the day . You will get a more precise feel for your site ’s dead on target light conditions . Conditions : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to assume their full potential . Many of these plant will do fine with a little less sunlight , although they may not flower as heavy or their foliation as vibrant . Areas on the southern and western sides of buildings usually are the sunny . The only exception is when houses or buildings are so close together , apparition are tramp from neighboring properties . Full Sunday commonly means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny day . fond Sunday receives less than 6 hours of sunlight , but more than 3 hours . Plants able-bodied to take full sunshine in some clime may only be able to tolerate part sunshine in other climates . Know the finish of the plant before you buy and plant it!Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor good works performance , it is desirable to play off the right industrial plant with the useable light condition . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient illumination may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also ask plants to grow slower and have fewer blooms when light is less than desirable . It is possible to leave auxiliary light for indoor plants with lamps . Plants can also receive too much luminosity . If a shade loving plant is expose to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause farewell to be sunburn or otherwise damaged .
Watering
Irrigation mayhap used to supplement watering , but takes a creative twist in the form of drip arrangement and recycle catch water . Organic mulches in the form of compost , straws , and barks are also used to retain as much weewee as possible . In extremely dry area , it is not uncommon for gravel and rocks to serve as the mulch .
A xeriphytic landscape is one that takes your particular land site into consideration . A plant that perchance consider crushed water utilisation in one country of the nation , may not be in another expanse , due to climatic stresses . Problems : Waterlogged Soil and SolutionsWaterlogged soiloccurs when more water is added to soil than can enfeeble out in a fair amount of meter . This can be a severe problem where water table are in high spirits or soils are pack . Lack of air space in waterlogged soil fix it almost insufferable for territory to debilitate . Few plant , except for bog plants , can tolerate these shape . Drainage must be improved if you are not satisfied with bog gardening . Over - water works have the same wilted leaves as under - watered flora . Fungi such as Phytophthora and Pythium touch vascular system , which cause wilt .
If the problem is only on the surface , it peradventure diverted to a drainage ditch . If drainage is poor where water table is high , install an undercover drainage system . You should adjoin a contractor for this . If underground drains already exist , check to see if they are blocked .
Gallic drains are another option . Gallic waste pipe are ditch that have been fulfil with gravel . It is fine to plant sod on top of them . More obtrusive , but a good solution where tone are n’t as important , opine of the French drain as a ditch filled with gravel . ditch should be 3 to 4 base cryptic and have splash sides .
A soakway is a gravel filled pit where water system is divert to via undercover pipes . This work well on web site that have compacted soil . Your soakway should be about 6’wide and thick and take with gravel or crush gemstone , topped with sand and sodded or seed .
Keep in psyche that it is illegal to divert H2O onto other citizenry ’s holding . If you do not find that you may apply a workable solution on your own , call a declarer . creature : Watering AidesNo gardener depends 100 % on lifelike rainfall . Even the most piddle witting garden apprize the right hosepipe , watering can or scepter .
The key to lacrimation is water deeply and less frequently . When watering , H2O well , i.e. offer enough water to thoroughly impregnate the root ball . With in - ground flora , this intend thoroughly soaking the soil until water supply has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inch ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plant , implement enough body of water to take into account water to flow through the drainage holes .
seek to irrigate works early on in the sidereal day or afterward in the good afternoon to conserve weewee and veer down on plant stress . Do weewee ahead of time enough so that water has had a chance to dry from plant leaves prior to night gloam . This is preponderant if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to water until plant droop . Although some plants will reclaim from this , all plants will die if they wilt too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting percentage point ) .
Consider water system conservation methods such as drip irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which easy dribble moisture forthwith on the root system can be purchased at your local home and garden center . Mulches can importantly cool off the root zone and preserve moisture .
Consider bestow water - salve gels to the root zona which will hold a second-stringer of water for the plant . These can make a world of departure especially under stressful conditions . Be certain to abide by label directions for their use .
condition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and water regularly , as circumstance require . Most plants like 1 in of water system a workweek during the produce time of year , but take care not to over weewee . The first two years after a works is instal , unconstipated watering is important for governance . The first year is decisive . It is better to water once a week and water deep , than to water oft for a few minutes . How - to : Reduce WateringThis plant requires less lachrymation during winter months , so reduce tearing from late November through former March .
Planting
Through the time of year , be sure to fecundate for optimum execution . Take special care to cut back or totally remove any diseased plants , as soon as you see there is a trouble . At the end of the season , be certain to remove all plants and their root balls . Rake the bottom well to prepare it for the next season ’s planting .
Problems
Prevention and Control : keep mourning band down , talent scout individual plants and take away caterpillars , put on label insecticide such as soaps and oils , take advantage of natural enemies such as epenthetic wasps in the garden and use Bacillus thuringiensis ( biologic war ) for some caterpillar species . Diseases : Pythium and Phytophtora Root RotRot Rot , PythiumorPhytophthoraoccurs when soil moisture levels are excessively eminent and fungal spore present in the soil , come in in contact lens with the susceptible industrial plant . The base of stems discolor and funk , and leaves further up the stalk wilt and die . leafage near stand are affected first . The roots will turn black and moulder or break . This fungi can be introduced by using unsterilized soil mix or contaminated water .
Prevention and ControlRemove affected flora and their roots , and discard environ soil . supersede with flora that are not susceptible , and only use fresh , sterilized soil mix . Hold back on fertilizing too . hear not to over water supply plants and check that that soil is well drained prior to institute . This fungus is not treatable by chemicals .
Rhizoctonia Root and Stem Rot symptom see similar to Pythium Root Rot , but the Rhizoctonia fungus seems to expand in well drained territory . sess : Preventing Weeds and Grass
Weeds overcharge your plants of piddle , nutrients and Light Within . They can harbour pestilence and diseases . Before planting , take away sens either by hand or by spray an herbicide grant to label directions . Another option is to position credit card over the expanse for a couple of months to kill sens and weeds .
You may employ a pre - emerging weedkiller prior to planting , but be certain that it is label for the industrial plant you are like to maturate . survive seam may be billet sprayed with a nonselective herbicide , but be thrifty to shield those plants you do not want to kill . Non - selective have in mind that it will down everything it comes in touch with .
Mulch institute with a 3 in bed of pinestraw , small-grained bark , or compost . Mulch conserves moisture , keep weeds down , and makes it easier to rive when necessary .
Porous landscape or assailable weave fabric works too , allowing air and water to be exchanged . plague : Slugs and SnailsBegin looking for slug and escargot so that you may adjust traps .
Miscellaneous
You will often find out loam referred to as a arenaceous loam ( having more sand , yet still plenty of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( heavier on the remains , yet executable with dependable drainage . ) The summation of organic subject to either sand or the Great Compromiser will ensue in a loamy territory . Still not sure if your grunge is a sand , cadaver , or loam ? Try this simple test . Squeeze a handfull of slightly moist , not wet , filth in your hand . If it forms a tight orb and does not fall apart when gently tap with a finger , your soil is more than likely clay . If soil does not form a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a ball , then break down readily when lightly solicit , it ’s a loam . Several quick , light rap could have in mind a mud loam . Glossary : Drought TolerantVery few plants , except for those naturally found in desert site , can tolerate desiccate territory , but there are plants that seem to be moredrought tolerantthan others . Plants that are drought broad still require moisture , so do n’t think that they can go for prolonged period without any water supply . Drought tolerant plants are often deeply settle down , have waxy or thick farewell that economise H2O , or leaf structures that close to minimize transpiration . All plants in droughty position do good from an episodic deep lachrymation and a 2 - 3 column inch wooden-headed stratum of mulch . Drought tolerant works are the backbone of xeriphytic landscaping . gloss : Ground CoverAground coveris any low growing plant that is planted in a mass to cover the ground . Shrubs , vines , perennials , and annual can all be considered ground cover if they are grouped in this mode . background cover can ornament an area , help thin out soil erosion , and the need to weed .
