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Rainbow Swiss Chard
Beta vulgaris
Also known as chard, beet spinach, leaf beet
In stock
Description
This beautiful variety of swiss chard includes a rainbow of colors. The swiss chard leaf stalks and veins come in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, green and white. Leaves are various shades of green and sometimes have hints of red depending on the time of year.
Swiss chard leaves are delicious cooked and somewhat similar to spinach in their mild flavor and gentle texture. Even still chard has its own unique flavor. If you enjoy eating beet greens, you’ll love swiss chard leaves because they are actually the same plant. While beets are bred for their delicious sweet roots, chard is bred for its big tasty leaves. I always find it amazing that one species of plant can be bred to have wildy different characteristics!
Swiss chard is a cool weather green and thrives in the shoulder seasons. In our zone 7 climate we enjoy chard leaves late winter through spring and then again in the fall when leaf production picks up again after the hot days of summer have passed. In cold climates chard can provide greens all through the winter in greenhouses or low tunnels.
Chard is one of those plants that when allowed to set seed volunteers readily in the garden. In fact we are transitioning to wild tend our population of swiss chard in our gardens by allowing seed to drop freely as well as broadcasting seed in exposed soil to establish new patches of chard.
We really enjoy eating chard in veggie stir fries paired with carrots and other seasonal veggies. Chard is also delicious in fall time soups. If you are a fan of Indian cuisine, swiss chard makes an extremely smooth and silky saag. We also like combining chard with other greens to make a richer saag or to tone down the bitterness of other greens.
Details
Lifecycle: Biennial
Lifespan: Two seasons (sometimes three in optimal conditions)
Hardiness zones: 4-8 (USDA)
Habitats: No
Plant size: 2 1/2 ft wide x 4 ft tall
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: All soils
Water: Prefers moist soils
Seeds per packet: 100 seeds
Seed Starting
It’s easy to direct seed chard’s large seeds. Plant them about 1/2″ deep. But they can also be started in nursery pots or flats and then planted when they get large enough.
Chard’s seeds are actually enclosed in a seed ball containing 3-5 seeds each. So when you plant the seed ball (bumpy seed pod), you may end up with several baby plants coming up in the same spot. When that happens simply thin the plants and keep the strongest one.
Cultivation
Swiss chard prefers regular moisture and fertile soils. But it will grow in many soil conditions. We grow our chards in clay soil and they love it.
We’ve found that in tougher soils and hot dry summers, if you can just get the plants to survive through the summer, come cooler weather they will reward you with lush growth and beautiful leaves in the fall (and the winter in zones 7+).
Harvest
Harvest the larger outer leaves from the first year plant when they are vibrant and green and before they begin to desiccate. In year two you can harvest the larger leaves before and during flowering, but before the plant sets seeds.
Propagation
Swiss chard is best grown from seed.
Seed Saving
Swiss chard must be overwintered because it will not flower or set seeds until the second season in its life. In colder climates swiss chard may benefit from heavy mulching to protect the roots from freezing.
Swiss chard is self infertile and requires at least two plants to set seeds, but seeds from five plants is better and more is merrier. It is also wind pollinated so you’ll want to have your plants next to, or quite near each other to ensure good pollination. The pollen is quite fragrant and I really enjoy smelling it when the nondescript flowers are blooming.
Strip or pluck seeds from the seed stalks once the seed balls have turned brown. Save at least a few seeds from each plant that flower. The more plants you save seeds from the merrier, because swiss chard is outbreeding.
Note: Swiss chard is genetically speaking the same species as beets and will readily hybridize. You may not want to save seeds from beets and chard in the same year to prevent them from crossing, or give them a fair bit of isolation.
Additional information
Weight | 0.01 lbs |
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Dimensions | 4.5 × 3.25 × .05 in |
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