Chard, Kale, and Collards can live for at least two years if they make it through the winter. Not sure how long they can live.
The plants go to seed the second year when the temperature warms up. Kale and Collards are really cool season crops. Kale is the most cold hardy. If you want seeds, you have to keep them going into the second year. Because of the unusual winter weather we have had, I wonder what it will mean for these three crops? Will they continue on? Or will they die? My chard is in its third summer. Lot of smaller leaves.
How old is your chard plant, Dorine? How does it get through your cold winters?