When to plant swiss chard in Missouri
Missouri’s average last spring frost is April 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 18 — about 186 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Swiss Chard needs 50–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Missouri's growing season.
When to plant swiss chard in Missouri: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 25 – Apr 11, with seeds started indoors Mar 11 – Mar 25. 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 Missouri, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 11 – Mar 25). 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 (Mar 25 – Apr 11). 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 Missouri.
- 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 May 21 – May 31). 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 Missouri’s average frost dates. More in the full swiss chard growing guide.
Swiss Chard planting dates by USDA zone in Missouri
Missouri spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. 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
Questions gardeners in Missouri ask
When is the best time to plant swiss chard in Missouri?
Plant swiss chard transplants outdoors in Missouri between March 25 and April 11. That timing is set by Missouri's average last spring frost of April 15.
When should I start swiss chard seeds indoors in Missouri?
Start seeds indoors between March 11 and March 25, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 25.
Can I plant swiss chard in the fall in Missouri?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 30 and August 16, so the crop matures in cool weather before Missouri's first frost around October 18.
When will swiss chard planted in Missouri be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, swiss chard is usually ready from about May 21 to May 31, 50-60 days after planting.
When is the last frost in Missouri?
On average around April 15, with the first fall frost around October 18 - about 186 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.