Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights'

* * * * - Based on 22 reviews
Use baby leaves raw in salad and larger leaves cooked like spinach. A must for the ornamental veg garden. More
100 seeds 080097 £1.95 In stock
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When in stock, please allow 2-3 days for despatch.
5 seedlings 510424-5 £5.50 Now £3.30 In stock
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When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.
10 seedlings 510424-10 £9.95 Now £5.97 In stock
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When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.

Or buy this as part of our Sarah Raven Best Ever Veg Collection.

More Details

Use brilliant-coloured baby leaves raw in salad and larger leaves cooked like spinach. Excellent for chard gratin and risotto balls. A must for the ornamental veg garden. You'll only need one or two sowings for growing all year, as this variety is slow to bolt.

Please note, illustrated packets are being introduced gradually over the coming months, availability may vary.

Genus Beta
Group/Species vulgaris subsp. cicla
Variety Bright Lights (syn. Rainbow)
Common Name Swiss Chard, Beet Leaf
Border Position Kitchen Garden
Soil Type Broad Tolerance
Site Part Shade
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 45cm (18in)
Spacing 30cm (12in)
Sowing, Seeds, Planting Direct sow from February - October. Can be sown under cover earlier in a gutter or seed tray and transplanted when large enough to handle. Chard needs an open sunny site in rich, moisture-retentive free-draining soil, although it can tolerate some shade in summer. Add organic matter the autumn or winter prior to sowing if necessary and on poor soils apply a balanced fertiliser, such as Organic GroChar Fertiliser. Sow thinly 2.5cm (1in) deep, 10cm (4in) apart in rows 45cm (18in) apart. Two sowings - one in spring and the second in summer – are usually sufficient. The later sowing provides leaves the following spring when growth resumes. Chard also grows well in a pot, use a minimum 25cm (10in) deep container. Chard needs an open sunny site in rich, moisture-retentive free-draining soil, although it can tolerate some shade in summer. Add organic matter the autumn or winter prior to growing if necessary and on poor soils apply a balanced fertiliser, such as Organic GroChar Fertiliser. Chard also grows well in a pot, use a minimum 25cm (10in) deep container.
Care Tips This will survive winter frosts to keep producing through until spring. Water before the onset of drought; mulch when the soil is warm and moist. Cover plants for overwintering in October with cloches or protect the crown with straw or similar material, then cover with fleece.
Harvesting All year, 4-6 weeks from sowing. In the summer, you can just slice off the whole plant with a sharp knife and within a couple of weeks it will be ready to be picked again. When it's truly cold, harvest the outer leaves only, leaving the heart to continue to grow. Leaves will produce for 4-5 months.
Cooking Notes This is actually two vegetables in one - separate the stem and the leaves, and cook the stem for 2-3 mins longer. Try it Sarah's delicious Ithaca pie recipe - a local version of Spanakopita.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
  • Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
  • Flowers/Harvest
Advice
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Delivery

Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for despatch. For fruit & veg bare roots/crowns, please allow up to 2 weeks for despatch.

Seeds Delivery - When in stock, please allow 2-3 days for despatch.

Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.

Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' reviews

* * * * - Average based on 22 reviews

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Reviewed 22nd April 2020 by Dawn

The first time I have tried them really sturdy & doing well

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Reviewed 11th March 2020 by Kristina

please refer to my customer experience

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Reviewed 5th August 2019 by Fiona

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Reviewed 3rd August 2019 by Julie

Very small plants. A nice flavour but very small plants.

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Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Lianne

I like the colors but i don't like eating chard, yet. Using them for display purpose near my rhubarb at the moment.

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Janice

The chard plants started well but some of them developed a disease of some sort which made the leaves inedible. These chard plants had pale stalks and didn't look like Bright Lights at all. I managed to eat some chard with red stalks but it was a poor return for 5 plants. Again they were grown in containers. They may do better in different conditions.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Emma

First planting completely failed to germinate, as did most of second. Third planting has come through but not thrived - I've never had this problem with chard before, so it has been quite frustrating.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Kelly

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Mary

Several pickings and freezer stocked. Incidently, planted under/in front of Clouds of Scent in metre deep long planters (keeping roots cool) on South facing wall.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Pip

Normally one sows a row of chard and then you have to thin it out. Only sporadic germination

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Elizabeth

Very good plants and good yield.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Louise

Good and tasty and plentiful

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Charlotte

Loved the chard, grew really well.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Paul

Germination poor this year with early bolting maybe weather related.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Fiona

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Lynda

Grew well in my allotment- loved them in salads as well as a veg.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Dawn

Perfect again, lots of comments on my allotments.

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Reviewed 18th November 2018 by Julie

See review of Rosemary. I have also reviewed the Chard.

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Reviewed 8th November 2018 by Theo

Grew well and lovely bright colours.

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Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Michelle

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Reviewed 19th September 2018 by Georgina

Delivery time is good and all the plants were strong and healthy

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Reviewed 19th September 2018 by David

Went to seed very quickly, expected better result.

Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:

"Please be advised that these will have been affected by the very hot weather this season, which as you are probably aware affects Chard and other salad crops when the soil temperatures are very high."

Posted 7th November 2018
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