Eventual height & spread
chard 'Rainbow Chard'
leaf beet / rainbow chard or Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens
- approx 125 seeds
- £2.49
- In stock (shipped within 2-3 working days)
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.99
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Hardiness: hardy annual
A riotous mix of red, pink, white, yellow, purple and orange stems on the same robust, leafy plant make this the most colourful of all the leaf beets. Pick the generous crop of leaves young and eat raw as multicoloured baby salad leaves, or cook leaves and midribs separately as a dual-purpose side vegetable. The midribs make a tasty (and colourful) substitute for celery in cooking.
Chard is easy to care for once established, needing regular watering in dry spells to keep the leaves tender and prevent bolting. Remove weeds around the plants to reduce competition, and apply a mulch to help retain soil moisture.
Harvest outer leaves regularly by cutting them near the base, allowing the central growth to keep producing fresh leaves over a long season. Both young leaves and mature stems can be picked, with frequent harvesting encouraging further growth.
Chard is hardy and will often stand through winter, especially with a little protection, giving a valuable supply of greens when other crops are scarce.
Harvest outer leaves regularly by cutting them near the base, allowing the central growth to keep producing fresh leaves over a long season. Both young leaves and mature stems can be picked, with frequent harvesting encouraging further growth.
Chard is hardy and will often stand through winter, especially with a little protection, giving a valuable supply of greens when other crops are scarce.
Sow directly outdoors in a seedbed from March to August. Sow seeds thinly at a depth of 1cm in drills 30cm (12in) apart. For young leaves, thin seedlings to 7cm (3in) apart. For larger chards/leaves thin to 15cm (6in) apart.
