Rainbow Chard Seed

Sometimes known as 'Leaf Beet' (because of being closely related to beetroot), this variety of Swiss Chard produces stems in a multitude of colours - white, cream, yellow, orange, crimson, purple and red.

Can be used in salads, stir-fried or lightly steamed. Rich in iron.

As a baby leaf you can start harvesting just four weeks after sowing, though to reach maturity will take about 8 weeks from sowing. But the real bonus of this variety is that it is slow to run to seed and so (with regular cropping) you can expect harvests for anything up to two years.

• Sow in 1" (2.5 cm) deep drills 18" (45 cm) apart from April until September.
• Once large enough to handle thin to 4" (5 cm) apart is using for salads, or 12" (30 cm) apart if using as larger leaves / stems.

• Top Tips
• Remove any flower buds should they appear.
• Harvest regularly to encourage a supply of fresh young growth.
• Cloche protect for the winter to extend the cropping season.