Swiss Chard 'Five Colours'

'Five Colours' is a stunningly ornamental and highly productive variety of Swiss Chard, often sold under the name 'Bright Lights'. This cultivar features stems and leaf veins in a vibrant array of colours including brilliant red, yellow, orange, pink, and white, making it as beautiful in the flower border as it is in the vegetable patch. The large, crinkled, dark green leaves are delicious and can be used like spinach, while the thick, succulent stems can be cooked like asparagus. It is remarkably easy to grow and very hardy, often providing harvests through much of the UK winter if the weather is not excessively severe. It is also more heat-tolerant and slower to bolt than many spinach varieties, ensuring a long harvest period. It prefers a sunny or partially shaded spot with fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Regular picking of individual leaves encourages the plant to produce new growth continuously throughout the season.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive soil.

Hardiness: H4 — down to −10°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.