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When to Plant Chard in Sawyer County, WI

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.

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 815 feet, Sawyer County receives approximately 36.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 78ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Chard to ensure they mature before fall.

Sawyer County, WI (Zone 3b) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Sawyer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (26 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 5 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 20 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 14

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Chard needs ~468 GDD — county provides 1,113 GDD Excellent fit

Chard Planting Timeline โ€” Sawyer County, WI

Chard Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 โ€“ Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 โ€“ May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 31
Fall Sowing July 3 Jul 3 โ€“ Jul 17
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 โ€“ Aug 30

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“60 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 3b

Growing Season

131 days

Growing Tips for Sawyer County

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

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Corn
  • Cucumbers

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chard in Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Chard planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sawyer County, WI?

Sawyer County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sawyer County gardeners in Zone 3b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sawyer County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.