Plant pickup: Thursdays 3–7pm · Also by appointment 512.348.7570
— Plant Nursery · Texas-Grown
$3.00
Mature Plant Size: 18-24″x12-18″
Days to Harvest: 50-60 days
Bright Lights Swiss Chard is an All-America Selections winner prized as much for its rainbow of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white stems as for its mild, earthy leaves. A cut-and-come-again staple that produces from fall through the following summer in Austin’s mild climate.
At Flying Rabbit Farm, our Bright Lights Chard transplants are grown for vivid stem color and long, productive harvest windows.
13 in stock
Moderate, consistent watering
More drought tolerant than lettuce once established
Feed every 3-4 weeks with balanced organic fertilizer for continued leaf production
Harvest outer leaves continuously, leaving the center to keep producing
Leaf miners
Aphids
Bolts in extreme summer heat but often survives to resume growth in fall
One of the most reliable, long-producing greens for Austin — often survives summer with some shade and continues through fall and winter
Colorful stems make it as much an ornamental edible as a kitchen staple
Primary planting window; grows steadily through the cool season
Tolerates frost well; continues producing through mild winters
Continues from fall plantings or start fresh; harvest before summer bolting
May bolt in extreme heat; afternoon shade extends the harvest
Fall (September-October) and early spring (February-March)
Ideal soil temperatures: 50-75 F
Full sun to part shade
Minimum 5-6 hours daily
8-12 inches apart
Well-draining, fertile soil
Compost-amended beds preferred
pH 6.0-7.0
Water deeply at transplanting
Keep evenly moist until established
Swiss Chard is generally considered non-toxic to:
Like other leafy greens high in oxalates, large quantities fed regularly are best avoided, but occasional small amounts are safe.