Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs
Rainbow Swiss chard
Beta vulgaris 'Rainbow'
Rainbow Swiss chard is a mix grown for edible leaves and stalks in pink, yellow, orange, red and white. Grow it in a vegetable bed where its colored stalks can be seen as you harvest outer leaves. Plants are commonly grown as annuals, so plan for a leaf crop rather than a permanent planting. In Southwest Washington, 'Rainbow' is listed for winter vegetable production west of the Cascades; a late spring or early summer planting may carry through a mild winter. Give it full sun to partial shade, rich, well-drained soil and consistent moisture. Individual plants may show only some of the mix's colors.
Ask about this plantAt a glance
- Mature height
- Not established
- Mature spread
- Not established
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Hardiness
- Commonly grown as an annual
The right plant, the right place
Make room for something good.
Grow Rainbow Swiss chard in a vegetable bed for its edible leaves and varied stalk colors. The mix may produce pink, yellow, orange, red and white stalks across plants.
Where to plant
Choose a spot in full sun to partial shade. Leave room to reach the outer leaves for harvest.
Through the seasons
Harvest outer leaves as they mature. Stalk colors vary across the mix, and a single plant may show only some of them.
Southwest Washington gardens
Give it a good start.
West of the Cascades, 'Rainbow' is listed as an option for winter vegetable production. Plantings made in late spring or early summer may continue through a mild winter.
Soil, drainage & water
Grow in rich, well-drained soil and maintain consistent moisture. Avoid overwatering seedlings, especially in cold soil.
A little care goes a long way
Growing well, season after season.
Harvest outer leaves as the plant matures. Keep the soil consistently moist to support continued leaf growth.
Know what to look for
Common growing concerns.
Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.
Aphids
Yellowing or wilting leaves, often with aphids underneath; sticky honeydew may attract ants.
Help your plant thrive
Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Wash aphids off leaves and encourage beneficial insects.
Damping-off
Seeds fail to emerge, or seedlings wilt and topple with a discolored stem at the soil line.
Help your plant thrive
Sow in warm, well-drained soil and avoid overwatering.
Downy mildew
Pale yellow spots above white to grayish growth on leaf undersides; affected tissue may turn brown.
Help your plant thrive
Allow air circulation, avoid overhead watering and remove infected plants and debris.
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Ribes uva-crispa 'Little Ben'
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CC BY-SA 3.0 · Web-optimized
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Explore this plantGood gardens start with a conversation
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for your place.
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