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When to Plant Chard in Cusick, 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.

Cusick, Washington is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 3,807 feet, Pend Oreille County receives approximately 13.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, 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.

Cusick, WA (Zone 6a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Cusick Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Chard Planting Timeline — Cusick, WA

Chard Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 – May 17
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 – Aug 23
Fall Sowing July 15 Jul 15 – Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

50–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Pend Oreille County

Growing Tips for Cusick

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 →

🌱

Your Pend Oreille County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Pend Oreille County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Pend Oreille County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.