chard

[redglass]

I grew chard for the first time last summer. It was brilliant, survived all that snow we had in the winter and is now in the process of bolting (I'm pulling the flower heads off to make it last a bit longer, but it's making them faster than I can get rid of them). The bloke on the next allotment says that if I let it, it'll self-seed and work like a perennial. I like this idea but I'm a bit nervous of keeping a crop in the same place. OTOH it doesn't seem to be much troubled by pests. Is chard so pest-free that I can just let it go on self-seeding and rotation isn't necessary?

[MKG]

In a nutshell, yes it is. I've had it on the same site for 6 or 7 years now. Just weed, feed occasionally, and a couple of handfuls of good garden compost as a winter dressing.

Mike

[redglass]

Thanks, that's amazingly good news. What an easy crop...and I actually like it (I know not everybody does! )

[little blue duck]

and if its as windy where you are as it is here ......... the seed will blow across your plot anyway!!
We have loads of it, for us and the animals (doesnt taint the goat's milk like cabbage can)