Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens

Chard, rainbow chard or Swiss chard, Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens, is a highly ornamental vegetable, bearing large, fleshy, deep green leaves with a similar flavour to spinach. Stalks are thick and crisp, and come in a variety of colours including white, yellow and red. Chard is easy to grow and incredibly rich in nutrients. If left in the ground over winter it can provide you with an extremely early crop the following spring.

Sow seed direct in prepared soil from March to August, at a depth of 1cm in drills 30cm apart, and thin seedlings to 7cm. Young leaves may be harvested to use in salads after eight weeks. Leave plants to mature for larger leaves.

Varieties include 'Bright Lights', with stalks that come in a variety of bright colours, red-stemmed variety 'Fantasy', and yellow-stemmed 'Bright Yellow'.