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Organic Gardening:

How to grow organic Leaf beet

by Frann Leach

Ruby chard can be ornamental

Leaf beet (Spinach beet/Perpetual spinach/Swiss chard/Seakale beet/Ruby chard/Rhubarb chard)

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla

Family: Chenopodiaceae (Group 1)

Leaf beet has lots of names, including Spinach beet, Perpetual spinach, Swiss chard, Seakale beet, Ruby chard and Rhubarb chard, and is easy to grow. It puts up with dry weather well, and will give you tasty spinach type leaves for up to 12 months from a single sowing.

Site/soil

Leaf beet will grow in any reasonable soil in sun or light shade. Ideal pH is 7. Acid soil should be limed.

Dig in compost or manure in Autumn and apply a general fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone 2 weeks before sowing.

Recommended cultivars
Leaf beet		Named varieties not usually offered
Swiss chard		Lucullus, Fordhook Giant
Ruby chard		Rhubarb chard, Rainbow chard

In April, station sow two or three seeds 30cm (1") deep 35cm (14") each way. Thin to a single plant in each position. A second sowing can be made in July or August.

Keep well weeded. Remove any flowerheads as soon as they appear. Water every 2 weeks in dry weather and mulch if possible.

Harvest outer leaves when large enough, from about June onwards, taking care not to disturb the roots.

Cloche or cover with straw in late Autumn to ensure Winter and Spring cropping;

Pests and Diseases

Downy mildew may occur in overcrowded plantings.

Birds may attack both seedlings and mature plants (if there is nothing more interesting for them to play with).

Hungry slugs may attack young plants in Spring.

If you're interested in healthy food, you may also be interested in our sister site, The Health Site, Your Online Health Channel.

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