When to plant swiss chard in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Swiss Chard needs 50–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant swiss chard in Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Jan 22 – Feb 8, with seeds started indoors Jan 8 – Jan 22. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow swiss chard in Florida, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 8 – Jan 22). Sow seeds 0.75 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-14 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 70°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Jan 22 – Feb 8). Space plants about 9 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Florida.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, aphids, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about Mar 20 – Mar 30). Swiss Chard takes 50-60 days to reach harvest. One of the most heat-tolerant leafy greens - a single spring sowing usually carries through summer into fall if kept picked.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full swiss chard growing guide.
Swiss Chard planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the swiss chard dates shift with them.
When to plant swiss chard in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant swiss chard in Florida?
Plant swiss chard transplants outdoors in Florida between January 22 and February 8. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start swiss chard seeds indoors in Florida?
Start seeds indoors between January 8 and January 22, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from January 22.
Can I plant swiss chard in the fall in Florida?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between September 21 and October 8, so the crop matures in cool weather before Florida's first frost around December 10.
When will swiss chard planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, swiss chard is usually ready from about March 20 to March 30, 50-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.