Garden observation- Swiss Chard

[JNRBRONC]

Just throwing this out there., not sure how practical or useful it might be.

I've been cleaning dropped apples out of the farmyard orchard to feed to the pigs, chickens, cows and horses. I'm hoping to clean up to minimize overwintering of pests (coddling moths). I've been seeing lots of deer droppings in the orchard as it appears the apples are also drawing them into the yard. I hung a trailcam last week but haven't checked the card yet.

Well, it appears that the deer, walking to the orchard, found the garden. The cold snap last week had a frost that killed everything in the garden but Swiss Chard, Kale and beets. The deer found one row of Swiss Chard and almost mowed it off Tuesday night. It will be interesting to see how long before they find the other row of Swiss chard on the other end of the garden. It is hiding behind a row of Kale, which I don't blame the deer for avoiding up to this point (bleck). I planted the Chard and Kale last spring; we have been harvesting it all year long. Not sure if one can find cheap or bulk seed for it, but one might consider it for adding it to a foodplot mix. They are about the only things still green out there. The Chard tolerated competition from some weeds and crab grass, so appears to be hardy. We planted a mixed Chard, some stems/leaves yellow, some white, some red/purple. Deer left some of the white stemmed Chard. Pulled the last of the beets last night to feed the pigs. FWIW

 

[JNRBRONC]

The botanical name for Swiss chard is Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla. It is a member of the Chenopodiaceae family. From taking botany classes, I remembered that Lambs quarter is also a member of the Chenopodiaceae family and the American Indians used to gather Lambs quarter seeds to eat. The leaves of Lambs quarter can be eaten as well. Call my Euell Gibbons, ha ha. The deer pound Lambs quarter as well in my area.

 

[Daver]

Cool observation. I don't know a thing about it at this time, but if it is more frost hardy than other plants AND the deer like it, I will plant it.

Now then...how long will it take some social media dweeb to start touting swiss chard AND telling us that they have been using it for years, etc. Just hit that "like" and "subscribe" button.

 

[JNRBRONC]

They found the second row of chard after mowing the east row off. I have a trail cam set up, will share pics when I pull the card. The chard is the row on the left, Brussel
sprout in middle, kale on the right. They don't seem to care for Kale, can't say I blame them. Maybe after a hard freeze it might be more attractive to them.

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[JNRBRONC]

Dug up a root to feed to the pigs, sure the deer would have continued to chew on it.


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[Bassattackr]

Deer never eat Kale in my plots. But will mow radish, turnips.

Its a junk filler as far as I'm concerned..