Blog

When to Plant Chard in Vermont

Swiss chard is a colorful, heat-tolerant green with large crinkled leaves and vibrant stalks in red, yellow, and white. Both the leaves and stems are edible and nutritious.

Vermont spans USDA hardiness zones 4b, 5a, 5b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

Share this guide:

Find Your County

Click your county for exact Chard planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Chard Planting Calendar for Vermont

Zone 4b ~155 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: May 1 · First frost: October 3 · 155 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 3
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 – May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 – May 15
Harvest June 26 Jun 26 – Aug 14
Fall Sowing July 11 Jul 11 – Jul 25
Zone 5a ~166 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 25 · First frost: October 8 · 166 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 – May 9
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 – May 2
Harvest June 20 Jun 20 – Aug 8
Fall Sowing July 30 Jul 30 – Aug 13
Zone 5b ~178 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 18 · First frost: October 13 · 178 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 – May 2
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest June 13 Jun 13 – Aug 1
Fall Sowing August 4 Aug 4 – Aug 18

Growing Tips for Vermont

Direct sow or transplant after last frost. Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continuous production. Chard tolerates both heat and light frost.

Share this guide:

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chard in Vermont?

Planting dates for Chard in Vermont depend on your USDA zone. Vermont spans zones 4b, 5a, 5b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Vermont for planting?

Vermont contains USDA hardiness zones 4b, 5a, 5b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: May 2026.