- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 20-50 days
Family: Amaranthaceae
Native: Mediterranean region, Europe
Hardiness: Biennial; fairly cold tolerant. Will overwinter in mild climates and withstand light to moderate freezes.
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Plant Dimensions: Up to 20" tall
Variety Info: "Perpetual Spinach" is an Italian heirloom Swiss chard that produces smooth, green leaves with thin, bright green stems.
Attributes: Frost Tolerant
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 75°-90°F. Sow as late as 2 months before first fall frost. Mild Climates: Sow in fall.
When to Start Inside: 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting out, 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date (protect from heavy freezes).
Days to Emerge: 5-10 days
Seed Depth: 1/2"
Seed Spacing: A group of 2 seeds every 8"
Row Spacing: 18"
Thinning: When 1/2" tall, thin to 1 every 8"
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Pick up to 1/3 of the outer leaves as needed, and let more leaves grow from the center of the plant; or, if desired, harvest the whole plant 2" above ground, and it will grow back. Pick very young leaves, at 2"-4" for using fresh in salads.
Special Care: Swiss chard "seed" is actually a dried fruit with several seeds, therefore, seedlings may emerge closely, making early thinning important. Thin newly emerged seedlings by pinching or cutting them off at the soil surface, to minimize disturbance to neighboring plants. Cultivate very lightly, as roots are close to the surface. Mulch soil surface when plants are 2" high to keep roots cool and moist. If the plant starts to bolt during the summer, cut off the flower stalk. Rotate Swiss chard (and others in the Amaranthaceae Family) location so they are not grown in the same area more than once every 3 years.
- Betsy P.CA, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 3 out of 5 stars10/30/25Cross betweeh Spinach and Chard
My family loves spinach, and this isn't quite like spinach, but it's very tasty. I like cutting the larger leaves and adding them to my salad. The younger members of the family aren't as enthusiastic about it as I am
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? FamiliesHow do you prefer to grow? Raised BedBIBotanical Interests11/4/25Hey Betsy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We really appreciate your thoughtful description of how Perpetual Spinach Swiss Chard Seeds have been working for your family - it's so helpful when gardeners share their real experiences with how different family members respond to new greens!
That's exactly the kind of authentic feedback that helps other gardeners understand what to expect from Perpetual Spinach Swiss Chard Seeds! You're absolutely right that it has its own unique flavor profile that's distinct from regular spinach, and we love that you've discovered how delicious those larger leaves can be when added fresh to salads - that's such a great way to enjoy the tender texture and mild flavor!
It sounds like you've really found your groove with harvesting and using the leaves, even if the younger family members are still warming up to this particular green! Your experience with enjoying the larger leaves in salads will be so helpful for other gardeners who want to discover just how versatile and flavorful Perpetual Spinach Swiss Chard Seeds can be for adding fresh, homegrown greens to their meals!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Sheryl ..Rated 5 out of 5 stars3/16/255 Stars
This chard is the best! Looks and tastes a lot like spinach (better, in my opinion) but much easier to grow. Here in my coastal 10a climate it lasts all year. I highly recommend it!
- Janet H.Verified BuyerRated 4 out of 5 stars2/26/254 Stars
I'm seeing lots of salad.
- Daphne K.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars1/18/255 Stars
I learned about perpetual spinach from a Bunny Guinness YouTube video. It's great! It's easy to grow in the winter in Central California and tastes like a nice mild spinach in salads. The texture is excellent, and it hasn't been threatened by any bugs or slugs so far. :)