Topic: Chard question

[Crystalmoon]

Hi everyone, my swiss chard has valiantly survived the cold winter & is still looking healthy. It was grown from seed last year. I was wondering if it will still be ok to eat this year or is it the type of plant that gets bitter with age? Im a complete novice with chard. Thanks

[kt.]

I'll be watching this thread with interest as I have sown chard seed for the first time this year.  Aint got a clue what to do with it though.

[galina]

No, it won't get bitter, but it will flower and not produce any more leaves.  It will go on for a bit longer but then you have a gap before spring sown chard is ready to harvest.  You can harvest and freeze now.  Chard freezes fine, I freeze the stalks and leaves separately.  The leaves just get chopped and put in a freezer bag.  The stalks cut and blanched for one minute in boiling water, then taken out and put into very cold water to cool them down fast, then frozen.

[Crystalmoon]

Thanks so much Galina I will pick it today & freeze it ;D

[1066]

I hadn't thought about freezing it so thanks for the tip!

[aquilegia]

My sowing from last year has started bolting now. I cut back the flower stem and eat the leaves off that. It keeps producing for a while, although it will throw up more flower stalks. It's fine to eat once it's bolting though. But it won't last forever.

I've also started some more seed for this year.