Introduced in 1934 by W. Atlee Burpee and Company and named after their famous Pennsylvania farm. Broad dark green heavily crumpled leaves with white veins and stalks. Plants grow 24-28″ high with 2½” wide stalks. Abundant crops all season and even after the first light frosts.
Fordhook Giant has a dark glossy green leaf colour. Fordhook Giant takes 58 days to mature after seedling transplant. Stems are broad and white in colour. The leaves are deeply savoyed, and the leaf margins are rippled.
Swiss chard prefers rich, well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. In the North, sow from early spring to midsummer for a fall crop; in the South sow in fall to spring. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 18 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 12 inches apart when they are large enough to handle.
Preserving And Storing Swiss Chard Giant Fordhook
Wash the Chard. Wash the chard well.
Separate Stalks From Leaves. Separate the stalks from the leaves.
Prepare Boiling and Ice Waters. Bring a pot of water to a boil and fill a bowl with ice water.
Place Swiss Chard in Boiling Water.
Plunge Chard in Ice Water.
Drain Well.
Freeze.
