SWISS CHARD Seeds, Fordhook Giant

Fordhook Giant (Beta vulgaris 'Fordhook Giant') is a heirloom Swiss chard with large, dark-green, heavily crumpled leaves and broad, white stems. A vigorous, heat- and cold-tolerant green that produces over a long season.

At a glance

• Botanical name: Beta vulgaris 'Fordhook Giant'
• Type: Heirloom, open-pollinated leafy green
• Days to maturity: about 50 to 60 days
• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Spacing: 6 to 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart
• Planting depth: 1/2 to 1 inch
• Mature height: about 24 to 28 inches

Best for

• Sauteing and steaming
• Fresh young leaves in salads
• A spinach substitute in cooked dishes
• Continuous cut-and-come-again harvests
• Spring through fall growing

How to grow

Direct sow 1/2 to 1 inch deep in fertile, well-drained soil from spring onward. Thin seedlings for airflow and keep the soil evenly moist. Chard tolerates both heat and light frost, so it produces through much of the season. Harvest outer leaves regularly and the plant will keep sending up new growth.

Flavor profile

Mild, slightly earthy, and a touch sweeter than spinach, with crisp, juicy stems.

About 99Heirlooms

99Heirlooms specializes in non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom seeds chosen for flavor and reliability, so you can grow proven varieties and save seed season after season.

Sold by 99Heirlooms.com, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota.