Swiss chard

Those of you who follow this  blog know I love greens (wish all my family felt the same).  I love spinach, but I find it too hard to grow- it never gets lush and big in my garden and it bolts too easily (even the slow bolt varieties).  So I grow Swiss chard instead. Chard is an excellent spinach substitute. The taste is similar, especially when cooked, and is good in salads when young.  And chard is easy to grow: it is sturdier than spinach, is slower to bolt (that is, go to flower), can be sowed late into the summer.  Plus chard is way prettier. The variety above (sea foam) is not a show boat, but "Bright Lights" with pink, red, yellow, green and cream stems is pretty enough for an ornamental garden accent.  Another variety, "Rhubarb," has pretty, deep red stems.

Try chard! And happy gardening!