Mangold leaf green LUCULLUS

Beta vulgaris - Lucullus

It has very strong, often reddish stalks and large blistered leaves. We distinguish two types of Swiss chard – leaf and stalk. Leaf chard has finer stalks and smaller blistered leaves in green, green-purple, purple to red colours. Stalk Swiss chard has strongly ribbed leaves and thick stalks. Swiss chard leaves are used in cooking similarly to spinach, while stalks replace asparagus. It contains abundant vitamin C, provitamin A, minerals, and fibre. Among minerals, it contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium and iron. It contains rutin, quercetin and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Leaves are added to salads, used for spinach or in combination with other vegetables. Stalks are steamed or cooked with meat, the colour of the stalks enhances every dish.

How to Grow Swiss Chard

• It requires a sunny location and a sheltered position. It does not thrive in locations exposed to frequent rain and subsequent soil drying. During the growing season, keep the bed weed-free, loosen the soil and water regularly. It thrives well near onions, lettuce or bush beans. It can also be grown alongside sage, thyme, mint, dill or garlic. In autumn, remove leaves from the plants, leaving only the heart. Place prepared seedlings in a cold frame, greenhouse or polytunnel where they will be protected from frost. Tender leaves will appear in April. Swiss chard plants can overwinter directly in their location. It is essential to cover the plants with suitable material such as leaves or straw.

• For summer harvest, grow it from direct sowing around mid-April; for autumn harvest, sow from early June onwards.

  Plant leaf type at spacing of 30 x 20 cm, stalk type 50 x 30 cm. Sow seeds at a depth of about 3 cm. Plants will emerge in approximately ten days. Subsequently, thin seedlings about two weeks after emergence.

• It thrives in quality soils with sufficient nutrients.

• In less fertilised soils, apply nitrogen fertilisers. Given the short growing season, additional fertilisation is neither desirable nor necessary in nutrient-rich soils.

• Swiss chard generally does not suffer from diseases. It is only attacked by aphids, which can be eliminated with soapy water or special insecticides; it is important to observe the protective period. Root rot is caused by poor care – frequent watering with large amounts of water, or planting young plants in permanently waterlogged soil.

• Harvest gradually from August by breaking off grown leaves, or harvest all at once by cutting the entire above-ground part. Several harvests can be made.