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When to Plant Chard in Grant County, WA

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.

Grant County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 164 days.

At an elevation of 3,122 feet, Grant County receives approximately 17.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chard during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Chard successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Grant County, WA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
164 days
Last Spring Frost April 29
164 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Chard

Chard needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chard Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.2" 4.1" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.6" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Grant County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chard Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, WA

Chard Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 25 Mar 25 โ€“ Apr 8
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 13
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 โ€“ Aug 12
Fall Sowing August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Aug 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

164 days in Grant County

Growing Tips for Grant 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chard in Grant County, WA?

Grant County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 29. Plan your Chard planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, WA?

Grant County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 29 and first fall frost is October 10.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Grant County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.