Bolting chard

[Marb67]

Ok, i usually get the dreaded leaf minor on chard/beetroots but before they arrive I now have to contend with bolting. Is this over for the plant as a leaf harvest or will cutting the main stem down stop this ? I have never, ever grown this to a successful harvesting leaf. I don't want to use enviromesh as the garden will look unsightly. Besides, it's a hasstle to put on. I also get twisted, distorted bubbling leaves which is a mystery.

[roitelet]

You can still use the leaves. It is not too late to sow more. Keep them well watered and sow in open ground. I sow in July/August and over winter in the tunnel but if you are in a fairly mild area they will stand in the ground until next year if sown now. They are biannual so go to seed in the second year.

Bubbly leaves, well some varieties grow that way or it could be insect damage. Check the back of the leaves for aphids.

[marchogaeth]

I never worry about bolting chard. Pinch the flower stem out, eat the little leaves off it compost the stalk and just keep harvesting the leaves from around. The plants last months like this especially if you give them a nice urine feed to encourage growth (on the soil not the leaves). Bubbly leaves? Well unless they look to horrible to eat, I wouldn't worry either I'm afraid. Unlike you, I am lucky enough to be able to think of chard as the "no worries crop" - mainly because the slugs don't really bother it. Good luck.

[BertieFox]

IN some of the potager gardens of the chateaux around here, there are absolutely enormous chard plants about a foot across at the base. I gather they get them like that by cutting them down to the base at the right time.

IN our garden, we haven't been without chard for twelve years though I only sowed it once thirteen years ago before we moved in! That is because I always leave a few plants to go completely to seed and then they self sow all over the place. It's dead easy to pull out any young plants you don't want, but often you find them in odd nooks and corners where you can just leave them without taking up 'garden' space. I grow it mainly in the paths between my deep beds.

They do best in the spring having been overwintered. But do as Marchgoaeth says to keep them producing young leaves for some while into summer.

We garden on very heavy clay soil, so maybe they like that best, but it is a wonderful trouble free crop or should be.

[Scarlet]

When did you sow it Marb? My chard sown last year has started to flower though as the others do, I just chop them off and carry on harvesting the leaves. My leaves are bubbly, I think it's the type of chard it is as there aren't any aphids on it. Sow some more, it's a great crop to have over the winter.

[rustylady]

Just cut the flowering stem out - you will get new sideshoots

[Marb67]

Now they are getting leaf miner. is there any end to the problems

[marchogaeth]

Now they are getting leaf miner. is there any end to the problems

Eat it faster??

[Scarlet]

Now they are getting leaf miner. is there any end to the problems

Pick the affected leaves and bin them. That should control the issue if it's early days.