Easy steps for growing Chard greens indoors through winter:

• Chard grows most productively under full spectrum (6400K) grow lights. We recommend Sunblaster T5 lighting. Grow lights should be maintained 6 - 12” above plant tops and should be on 16 - 18 hours per day.
• During the months where daylight-hours are low Chard requires full-spectrum lights to grow productively. 
• Chard grows very well in shallow containers with drainage. We often use 11 x 11” or 10 x 20” trays. Other ideas include recycled clam shells from store-bought greens or recycled flower pots.
• For completely easy baby greens use a composty soil. We use an organic potting mix blended with Sea Soil compost at a 60 / 40 ratio. By building in high-quality compost you can avoid any need for additional fertilizing.
• Chard takes 5 - 7 days to germinate. The ideal temperature for germination is 10 - 21º C; bottom heat will speed up germination and encourage faster seedling development. In general, chard thrives where air temperatures are cool; combining mild bottom heat and cool air temperatures is a perfect combo for robust greens.
• Wet your soil medium before sowing then sprinkle seeds onto soil surface at approximately 100 seeds per 11 x 11” tray. Press seeds gently into soil surface and spritz (or carefully water) to fully moisten.
• Check on seeds every few days to notice when they are starting to germinate. Maintain soil moisture without allowing the mix to be soggy.
• Chard will grow as a baby green for approximately six weeks before a new crop needs to take over. Sow new trays every 2 - 4 weeks to keep a constant supply.

Additional Tips:

• Great air circulation around your indoor garden makes everything better! If you are growing lots of plants indoors consider adding a small fan to your set-up.
• If using humidity domes over your trays: be sure to leave these off for at least one hour per day to allow for air circulation.
• Pests rarely occur on baby greens but it is a good idea to clean pots/trays with warm soapy water (or 10% bleach solution) between crops and generally keep your growing area tidy.
• Crops that are grown to larger than baby green size will likely require fertilizing for best productivity; we recommend Evolve Organic All-Purpose Fertilizer for our indoor gardens.

Harvesting Tips:

• Harvest leafy greens by up to 50% with each cut.
• Use sharp scissors to cut your greens - this helps plants regrow more quickly after harvest.
• The beauty of growing your own baby greens is that you can harvest just what you need when you need it!