Bright Lights Swiss Chard (50 Days)

A 1998 All-America Award Winner. Bright Lights Swiss Chard is almost neon in appearance and was the talk of our trial gardens. The leaves are green, moderately savoyed with veins of vibrant color, red, orange, or yellow running through them. The contrast is outstanding. Use young raw leaves in a salad (30 days) or briefly cook mature leaves (50 days) to maintain their color. If started indoors 5 to 6 weeks before setting out they can be planted by color for effect in an ornamental edible garden. Developed by Johnny's Selected Seeds. 75 seeds PLANTING Beta vulgaris Germination: 5-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF. Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2” deep Starting Indoors: 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Thin to the strongest seedling. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to ¼ of the suggested measurement. Start transplanting a week or two before the last frost. Space 10-18" apart.   Sowing Outdoors: Mid-spring into early summer. Starting when the soil temperature reaches at least 50ºF. Germination is slower in cooler slow temperatures. Sow 3-4 seeds every 10-18” apart. Thin to the strongest seedling per space. Sow 40-50 days before first fall frost for late summer/fall harvest. How much does a packet plant: 10-15 foot single row  Harvest: Remove outer leaves starting at 4-6” for baby salad greens. Use the mature leaves and center ribs cooked or raw. Tips: Bright Lights Swiss Chard needs fertile well-drained soil. Tolerates both cold and hot temperatures and can grow from spring until frost. Sow a few times a summer for continuous greens.