Botanical Interests Ruby Red/Rhubarb Swiss Chard Seeds

Ruby Red' chard will beautify your garden as well as your plate! An 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.

Dark green crinkled leaves with red veins and stalks and sometimes with reddish coloring in the leaves.

• Days to Maturity: 50-60 days
• Family: Amaranthaceae
• Native: Mediterranean Region, Europe
• Hardiness: Biennial; Fairly cold tolerant. Will overwinter in mild climates and withstand light to moderate freezes
• Exposure: Full Sun To Part Shade
• Plant Dimensions: 24" Tall, 18" Wide
• Attributes: Frost Tolerant, Good for Containers

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.

4 to 6 weeks before transplanting out, 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date (protect from heavy freezes).

• Days to Emerge: 5-10 days
• Seed Depth: 1/2"
• Seed Spacing: A Group of 2 Seeds Every 8"
• Row Spacing: 18"
• Thinning: When 1/2" Tall, Thin To 1 Every 8"

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.

• Type: Organic Heirloom