These plants need some sunshine, but will tolerate partial shade if planted in spring/summer (and in fact this can often help to keep them cool and prevent them from bolting). If planting in autumn, it is better to choose a site that gets as much sunlight as possible.
They need rich, moisture-retentive soil. Dig in plenty of compost.
You will see that some plug plants have multiple seedlings growing - this is fine and you can plant them like this without thinning them out.
Plant them about 30cm apart.
Growing Tips:
These plants will keep producing lots of leaves for several months if kept fairly cool – regular watering, mulching and growing them in partial shade can help. If they do get too hot, they are prone to ‘bolt’, and will stop producing leaves and instead start to form a flower/seed head.
Protect from slugs and snails, and rabbits and pigeons too if necessary.
Problems & Pests:
Slugs/Snails – Lettuces and leaves are very popular with slugs and snails – keep them protected (try beer traps, eggshell/grit, copper tape etc) and remove any slugs that you see.
Plants bolting – In hot, dry conditions spinach and chard can get stressed and will rush to produce flowers and seeds rather than producing lots of leaves. Once this has happened you cannot reverse it, so the best thing to do is keep your plants nice and cool and well watered during warm spells to try and prevent it.
Rabbits - Try to protect your leaves from rabbits if they are a problem in your plot – a simple 2 foot high fence made from chicken wire and bamboo canes is usually sufficient to deter them, but the more persistent rabbits will burrow underneath the fence, so be prepared to dig the chicken wire into the ground if needed.
Leaf Spot - if you start to see small brown spots appearing on leaves, this is leaf spot - a fungal disease. The best way to keep plants healthy is to pick off and discard any affected leaves allowing new healthy growth to come through. You may find it beneficial to thin plants out slightly, cutting back leaves heavily to allow air to circulate well between plants.
Harvesting/Storing:
Cut from the very base of the stem. Harvest larger, outer leaves first and allow smaller baby leaves to keep growing.
Pick what you need on the day you want to eat it, or pop the harvested leaves in a jug of water (it's very decorative!) and they will keep well for several days.
Spring/Summer plantings: You should be able to harvest baby leaves within 3-4 weeks of planting, and larger leaves a couple of weeks thereafter.
Autumn plantings: You should be able to harvest baby leaves from late autumn through winter. In early spring they will start to grow quite fast and you will be able to then pick larger leaves for several months.
