Swiss chard: Diseases and Remedies (Complete Remedies List)

NOTE: In this article, Swiss chard and Beta vulgaris var. cicla may be used interchangeably; in fact, Beta vulgaris var. cicla is the botanical name for Swiss chard.

Swiss chard is often overshadowed by its cousins in the garden. This biennial vegetable is easy to grow, and it looks as good as it tastes, because it completes its life cycle in two growing seasons. The large, thick, ruffled leaves grow from a crown at the base of the plant and come in a multitude of colors with contrasting ribs and veining.

As you harvest individual leaves, they keep growing. The plant has small yellow blooms in its second growing season. Swiss chard has a fast growth rate, with its best growth occurring in mild temperatures. It can be planted early in the spring or late in the summer.

Why does my Beta vulgaris var. cicla roots have rot?

Root rot on your Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) can be dangerous if left untreated. In order to keep your plant alive, we strongly suggest that you follow our advice if the signs start to show: blackened and mushy roots.
Swiss

Why does my Swiss chard have gray mold spots?

A particular fungus known as gray mold spots spreads quickly and frequently damages flowers. This fungus is probably to blame if you see any brown (or gray) spots. If you disregard these warning signs, your plant could die.

Our Solution

When you understand the root of the issue, the solution makes perfect sense. The majority of the time, it is caused by the Beta vulgaris var. cicla being overwatered. We urge you to cut off the infected roots and leaves, remove the affected sections of the plant, and then repot your plant in a fresh container with sterile potting soil.

Why does my Swiss chard have leaf spots?

Leaf This type of disease is one of the most frustrating for Swiss chard owners, we give you all the leads to spot and save your plants that present symptoms such as leaves that suddenly change color, or wilt/droop.

Why are my Swiss chard leaves turning yellow?

In the world of horticulture, yellowing leaves are undoubtedly the most common problem. The two main causes of this problem are overwatering and a lack of nutrition.

When it’s overwatering, simply reduce your watering frequency, and if you think it’s a nutrient deficiency, here’s how to check it:

Each deficiency produces a different yellowing on the Beta vulgaris var. cicla in question, here’s how to spot them:

  • Yellow patches between leaf veins on elder leaves are the first sign of magnesium shortage. Veins continue to be green while the leaf’s core turns yellow. The leaf’s edges yellow last.
  • Iron deficiency also shows as yellowing between leaf veins, but it hits young leaves on plant tops and branch tips first.
  • Sulfur deficiency starts with the newest leaves, turning them yellow throughout.
  • Potassium deficiency shows itself when leaf edges turn bright yellow, but the inner leaf stays green. Older leaves show symptoms first, and leaf edges soon turn brown.
  • Nitrogen deficiency shows up as a general yellowing. Older, inner leaves turn yellow first. As it progresses, yellowing moves outward, eventually reaching young leaves, too.

Our Solution

According to the symptoms mentioned above, you just have to act accordingly. You can reduce your watering frequency, or fix a deficiency in Potassium, or Nitrogen, for that, you just have to buy a special soil for your deficiency, a consultant in a gardening store will know perfectly well how to inform you.

Is my Swiss chard sunburned?

It is simple to determine whether your Swiss chard (your Beta vulgaris var. cicla) has sunburn. Your plant will change color in this instance, beginning to turn yellow or white, much like it does on us.

Sunburned

As we saw above, if your Swiss chard receives too much water or not enough light, the leaves may also change color.

The bottom of the yellow leaves with a shaded area closer to the base can be examined to determine if they have been sunburned. If this part remains greener, the yellow leaf is most likely sunburned and not something else.

Why are my Swiss chard leaves turning brown?

Most of the time, leaves of a Swiss chard that turn brown is a sign that your plant has been sunburned, it has probably been exposed to too much direct sunlight. Don’t panic, your plant probably won’t die from this, but its growth will take a hit.

Should I leave my Beta vulgaris var. cicla in direct sunlight?

No! If your Beta vulgaris var. cicla (or Swiss chard) has the symptoms described above, don’t leave it in direct sunlight, that’s the reason why your Swiss chard is in such a state!

Our Solution

As explained in the paragraph above, the solution is simple, just place your Swiss chard in a place where the light does not reach it directly, in this way and with a correct watering, your plant should resume its life rather quickly.

Why are my Beta vulgaris var. cicla leaves drooping or wilting ?

In most cases, this happens when your Beta vulgaris var. cicla lacks water. This is especially the case for large plants, naturally they need more water than others.

Drooping

An easy way to know if your Beta vulgaris var. cicla is lacking water is to under-weigh its pot, if it looks light, it means that the soil and the roots are probably quite dry, and therefore need water!

Our Solution

If the soil in the container is completely dry, you must first moisten it to guarantee that your plant’s roots absorb the benefits of the water. One common mistake is to drown the Swiss chard right away after a dry time because you think it needs a lot of water.

This is true, but the easiest way to end it is to give too much water at once. Instead, you should water the soil properly, returning to a peaceful watering rhythm.

Caring Tips for Beta vulgaris var. cicla

Water Occasionally

Your plant needs water to survive, but it’s crucial to balance the amount and timing of watering. As we previously mentioned, overwatering could be catastrophic for your Beta vulgaris var. cicla.

You can tell if your plant needs water by touching the soil; if it still feels damp, it’s usually preferable to wait a few more days.

Always keep temperatures stable

It is also a good idea to keep your Beta vulgaris var. cicla at a stable temperature (especially if it is kept indoors!). At GreenShack, we generally recommend staying in the 65 and 85 degrees F range. Of course, do not place your Beta vulgaris var. cicla near a source of hot (or cold) air such as A/C units, radiators or the like.

Keep your Swiss chard Dust-Free

This one concerns indoor plants, just like on your furniture, dust is also deposited on the leaves of your indoor plants, the problem is that it can prevent them from receiving the necessary light, this would slow down (or even stop) the photosynthesis process, and eventually, they would lose their colors.

This would also make the pests happy, a real descent into hell for your Swiss chard.

To remove the dust, gently rub the plant’s leaves with a microfiber cloth. Dust can be removed more easily with a damp cloth, but stay away from corrosive substances like rubbing alcohol!

Keep drainage in mind

If you tend to overwater, you need to pay attention to your drainage, and we advise choosing a saucer and a pot with drainage holes if they are not already there.

If your pots don’t already have holes in them, you can add volcanic rocks (or any other pebbles with holes) to the bottom of your pot in the meantime. This will assist in creating a channel and keep the water from pooling there for an extended period of time, protecting the roots from decay.