Swiss Chard, Organic (Ruby Red Rhubarb)

Botanical Interests Organic Ruby Red Rhubarb Swiss Chard Seeds

Ruby Red chard will beautify your garden as well as your plate! An 1850s vigorous grower with a long growing season, it will provide fresh greens from early summer into fall, and year-round in mild climates. Packed with vitamins and minerals, young leaves are great for salads. Any size leaves can be steamed, stir-fried, added to lasagna, omelets, soups, and stews, and mixed with other greens. Good container variety.

Sowing Information:

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• When to Start Inside: 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting out, 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date (protect from heavy freezes).
• When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 40°F, ideally 75°–90°F. Sow as late as 2 months before first fall frost. Mild Climates: Sow in fall.
• Days to Emerge: 5-10 days
• Seed Depth: ½ inch
• Seed Spacing: A group of 2 seeds every 8 inches
• Row Spacing: 18 inches
• Thinning: When ½" tall, thin to 1 every 8 inches
  
• Days to Maturity: 50-60 days

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: Pick up to 1/3 of the outer leaves as needed, and let more leaves grow from the center of the plant; or, if desired, harvest the whole plant 2" above ground, and it will grow back. Pick very young leaves, at 2"-4" for using fresh in salads.
• Variety Information: Dark green crinkled leaves with red veins and stalks and sometimes with reddish coloring in the leaves.
• Hardiness: Biennial; fairly cold tolerant. Will overwinter in mild climates and withstand light to moderate freezes.