Scientific name: Beta vulgaris ssp. cicla
Family: AMARANTHACEAE
Common names: “Swiss chard”
Plant Type: Biennial vegetable, can be grown as an annual
Conditions:
Zone: 2-11, survives winter in zones 7-8+ usually
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered, not frost hardy
Soil: Fertile
Moisture: Moist well drained
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 16-20″ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Green – burgundy leaves and yellow, red-purple and green or white stalks
Flower: Insignificant
Maintenance: Low, remove flowers as soon as they appear, harvest older leaves from the outside in as they grow, might benefit from a little bit of ocean water
Landscape use: Ornamental edible garden, vegetable garden, container, Mediterranean
Propagate: By seed
Pests & Disease: Slugs and leaf miners, sparrows eat them
Comments: A productive vegetable crop 12 months of the year in a zone 7-8 climate, tasty edible leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked, native to the Mediterranean region, typically not as tasty once they bolt in the second year
Vancouver Island Grows 