Position

Sun exposure:
Dappled shade, full sun
Aspect:
East facing, south facing, west facing

Soil

Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

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'.

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sowyesyesyes
Harvestyesyesyesyesyes

Beta and wildlife

Beta has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.

Is Beta poisonous?

Beta has no toxic effects reported.

No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Cats
Cats
Is not known to attract Dogs
Dogs
Is not known to attract Horses
Horses
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
Plants that go well with Beta vulgaris
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