40 DAYS
Beta vulgaris
Grow a rainbow of stem colours – yellow, gold, orange, pink, violet, green, or striped, in addition to the standard white or red. This All-America Selections winner boasts improved tenderness along with a milder chard flavour, making it a delightful addition to any garden or landscape. Eye-catching and versatile, the stems retain their vibrant colours even after light cooking, bringing a rich, crisp, and peppery bite to your plate.
Size: Mature plants reach approximately 18 in. tall with a spread of about 16 in.
Yield: Provides continuous harvest through the growing season; successive seedings can yield fresh chard throughout summer.
Taste: Mild, sweet, and peppery flavour that brightens up salads and cooked dishes.
How to use: Excellent in salads, sautéed, or as a colourful side dish; can also be used as an ornamental plant in flower beds.
Planting tips: Sow seeds outdoors no more than 1 in. deep, spacing seeds 5 to 6 per ft. of row, with rows 15 to 18 in. apart. Thin seedlings to 6 in. apart as they grow. Cultivate shallowly to avoid damaging roots and consider successive sowing every 10 to 14 days for a steady harvest.
Harvest tips: Begin picking when the leaves are large enough; harvesting regularly encourages bushier regrowth and continual production.
