Botanical Interests Organic Ruby Red Swiss ChardSwiss Chard Ruby Red (also called Rhubarb Chard) is an heirloom with sweet and tender rhubarb-like stalks that are decorative, nutritious, and tasty. The deep crimson stalks and veins beautifully contrast with its dark green heavily crumpled large leaves. Some believe that the leaves are tastier than spinach, and the edible stalks crunch like celery with a slight asparagus flavor. It can tolerate shade and won't get bitter in hot weather. Don't hide Ruby Red back in the vegetable garden. It makes a beautiful display in containers and among flowers. You can make a pretty edible display by planting it with edible flowers such as Marigold Gem Lemon/Tangerine Blend, Nasturtiums, Pansies, or Violas. When to plant outside: RECOMMENDED. Early spring, 2-4 weeks before the average last frost date or when soil temperature reaches 50 degrees. When to start inside: Not recommended. Special Sowing & Germination Instructions: Soak seeds in water for 24 hours before planting. Chard seed is actually a dried fruit with 1-5 seeds in each fruit. Therefore, thinning instructions are very important. Plant seed 1/2" deep and 2" apart. If several seedlings emerge from 1 fruit in the same spot, immediately thin to 1 seedling per 2". After 3-4 weeks, thin to 1 seedling per 8". Thinned seedlings can be used in that evening's salad. Do not allow a crust to build up on the soil surface which will cause seedlings to struggle to come up. Cultivate lightly and mulch soil surface when seedlings are 2" high. Harvesting: The best quality leaves are 10" or shorter. Pick individual outer leaves as desired or harvest the entire plant by cutting it 2" above the base, and it will grow new leaves. A fairly cold tolerant annual, Swiss Chard can withstand light to moderate frost. In cold climates, mulching soil in early winter can allow harvest all the way up to late December. It can survive the winter in mild climates and will send up a seed stalk in the second year that should be removed. However, Swiss Chard tastes best in the first season, so should ideally be started fresh from seed each season. Container Tips: Swiss Chard can be grown in 5-gallon containers. 3 to 5 plants per container.
Contents: Beta - vulgaris (Cicla group)
Why Our Product is Different
At Botanical Interests our goal is to inspire AND educate so that you can create beautiful and successful gardens.
Untreated seeds.
A large selection of Certified Organic varieties
Guaranteed - the germination rate of every variety is tested before we package it
No GMOs - recently, we enthusiastically signed the SAFE SEED PLEDGE: We do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants
About Botanical Interests
Curtis and Judy met while waiting to interview for the same horticultural job and soon found they shared a boundless enthusiasm for gardening. Botanical Interests began out of their mutual passion and personal desire for better quality seed and more informational tools to help and inpire gardeners.
"We wanted a level of purity and quality that wasn't easy to find," recalls Curtis. So they searched out the highest quality seed available and began their business in 1997, in the spare bedroom of their Colorado home. The business objectives they established then still hold strong for them now: to inspire and educate gardeners; to provide high quality seed to their customers; and to create an enjoyable work place for employees.
Over the years, Judy and Curtis' family has grown along with their line of seeds which now attracts and pleases customers nationwide.
|
100
% organic
We also accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards
