When to plant swiss chard in Arlington

Swiss chard is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Arlington's frost dates of Apr 8.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 11 – Apr 1
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Mar 25 – Apr 15
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
May 14 – May 24
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jul 19 – Aug 2
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 14 – Sep 24
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
50 – 60 d
Arlington's 206-day season leaves this much room.
Swiss chard on Arlington's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
APR 8
NOV 3

Common questions

When can I sow swiss chard outdoors in Arlington?

Direct-sow around late March (Mar 25–Apr 15) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 88%.

When will swiss chard be ready to harvest in Arlington?

Expect to harvest from around mid May (May 14–May 24) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 79%.

When should I start swiss chard seeds indoors in Arlington?

Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 11–Apr 1) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.

When can I transplant swiss chard outdoors in Arlington?

Transplant outdoors around late March (Mar 25–Apr 15) in Arlington, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 88%.

Can I plant swiss chard in autumn in Arlington?

Yes — Arlington supports a second, autumn sowing of swiss chard around mid July (Jul 19–Aug 2), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Arlington?

Arlington has roughly 206 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow swiss chard to maturity outdoors.

The rule of thumb

Sow swiss chard as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Arlington's frost dates.

Confidence 88/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.