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JNB Seed

Ruby Red Swiss Chard Seeds

Ruby Red Swiss Chard Seeds

Regular price $2.50 CAD
Regular price Sale price $2.50 CAD
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The Ruby Red Swiss Chard is an excellent addition to your garden, bringing vibrant color with its striking appearance. Its scientific name is Beta vulgaris cicla. It matures in 55-60 days, offering delicious, uniquely flavored leaves that can be enjoyed fresh or frozen. Originating from the Mediterranean region, Swiss chard was introduced to the United States in 1857. Both professional chefs and home cooks utilize it for salads, soups, or as a rice flavoring. With its dark green, glossy leaves featuring red veins and bright crimson stalks, this vegetable serves as a decorative and edible element in your garden. The plants reach a height of up to 61 centimeters, and their delightful leaves can be harvested at any stage for various culinary purposes.

Ruby Red Swiss chard made its debut in the United States in 1857. Despite its name, it hails from the Mediterranean region, where it has been a staple in culinary traditions. The earliest documentation of this vegetable in the United States dates back to The American Farmer magazine, where Baltimore farmer Gideon Smith reported its experimental cultivation. Although initially a curiosity, it gained popularity after the Civil War. Ruby Red, also known as Rhubarb, boasts brilliant red stems set against dark green leaves, growing up to 61 centimeters tall. This dependable heirloom has stood the test of time since the 1850s. Whether harvested at the baby stage for salads or fully matured for cooking, Ruby Red Swiss Chard promises deliciousness.

Ruby Red Rhubarb - This stunning Swiss Chard variety, also known as Ruby Red or Rhubarb, showcases vibrant red stems against lush dark green leaves that can reach heights of up to 61 centimeters. Whether enjoyed as tender baby leaves in salads or as fully grown vegetables in cooked dishes, it offers a delightful taste experience. Cool Weather Heirloom - Known for its ease of cultivation, Ruby Red Swiss Chard has been cherished by gardeners since the 1850s. Thriving in cooler climates, it exhibits greater frost tolerance compared to other Swiss Chards. With proper watering, it can also endure summer heat.

    How To Grow

    Sowing: Plant Swiss chard directly in the soil approximately one week after the final spring frost, placing the seeds 1.27cm deep in soil enriched with compost, ensuring they receive full sun. If you intend to harvest the entire plant, maintain a spacing of 10-13 centimeters between each plant. For continuous harvesting of the outer stalks, increase the spacing to 20-25 centimeters to allow for larger growth. To ensure a consistent summer yield, sow additional ruby red Swiss chard seeds every two weeks. Expect germination within about a week. Swiss chard exhibits resilience to light frosts, making it suitable for fall planting as well.

    Growing: Ensure the soil remains consistently moist and free of weeds by applying a layer of mulch.

    Harvesting

    Harvesting: You can gather individual leaves for greens when they reach a height of 15-20 centimeters. If you prefer to harvest the entire plant, cut it at ground level, leaving about 2.5 centimeters of stem to promote regrowth for another harvest. Alternatively, you can selectively harvest outer stalks, allowing the center to continue growing.

    Seed Saving

    Seed Preservation: Since Swiss chard is pollinated by the wind, it's crucial to keep them isolated from other chard and beet varieties by a distance of at least two miles to maintain their genetic purity. Chard plants need to survive the winter to produce seeds; in warmer regions, mulching the plants is sufficient. However, in cooler climates, it's necessary to dig up the roots and store them separately in sand in a cool, humid place; replant them in early spring. When spring arrives, the plants will flower and produce seeds; wait until the seed heads are fully mature and dry before harvesting them. Once completely dry, the seeds will easily detach from the stems. Store the ruby red Swiss chard seeds in a cool, dry place for up to five years. Swiss Chard is a biennial plant, so allow the plants to overwinter, and they will flower the following summer. After the flowers dry out, remove and dry the seed stalks for 1-2 weeks. Then, extract the seeds from the stalks and store them in a cool, dry location.

    Extra Facts

    Planting Methods: Directly sow the seeds in well-drained soil enriched with compost, ensuring they are planted 1.3 centimeters deep. Space the seeds according to desired harvest method: 10-13 centimeters apart for whole plant harvest, and 20-25 centimeters apart for continuous harvesting of outer stalks.
    Blooming Season: Typically blooms during the summer season.
    Planting Season: Best planted approximately one week after the final spring frost.
    Latin Name/USDA Zones: Beta vulgaris cicla / USDA Zones 3-10.
    Sunlight Required/ Height: Requires full sun to partial shade; grows up to 60 centimeters tall.
    Shelf Life After Test Date: Typically viable for planting for up to 2 years after the test date.
    Seed Type: Non-hybrid heirloom seeds.
    Soil Type: Prefers loam soil, but can also thrive in clay or sandy soil.

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