Chard

Read about Chard in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Chard (ch pronounced as in charge). Swiss Chard. Sea-Kale Beet. A form of the plant (Beta vulgaris) which has produced the common beet; known as Beta Cicla(p.496). See Beet and Beta. The beet plant has given rise to two general types of varieties: those varieties with thickened roots (the beet of America, the beet-root of European literature); and those with large and pulpy or thickened leaves (but whose roots are small and woody). The latter type is known under the general name of leaf-beets. These leaf-beets may be arranged into two sub-groups: (1) Common or normal leaf-beets, or spinach beets, in which the leaf-blade is large and pulpy, and is used as spinach; chard, in which the petiole and midrib are very broad and thick, is a form of this, although the name is sometimes used as synonymous with the general edible leaf-beet group. (Fig. 897); (2) ornamental beets, of which the foliage is variously colored. Chard is of the easiest culture. Seed is sown in spring, as for common beets. The broad petioles, or chards, may be gathered from midsummer until frost. These broad white stalks or ribs are used as a pot-herb; and, if desired, the leaf-blades may be cooked with them. The dish is usually more attractive, however, if only the chards are cooked. If cutting of the leaves is carefully performed, a succession may be had till cold weather. Chard is an attractive vegetable when well grown, but is little used in this country. L. H. B. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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? Chard
Chard
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta Superdivision: Spermatophyta Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Sublass: Caryophyllidae Order: Caryophyllales Family: Amaranthaceae Genus: Beta Species: B. vulgaris Subspecies: B. v. var. cicla
Trinomial name
Beta vulgaris var. cicla (L.) K.Koch

Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla), also known as Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Perpetual Spinach or Mangold, is a leaf vegetable, and is one of the cultivated descendants of the Sea Beet, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima. While used for its leaves, it is in the same species as the garden beet, which is grown primarily for its roots.

The word "Swiss" was used to distinguish chard from French charde or chardon by nineteenth century seed catalogues publishers and the name stuck. Chard is very popular among Mediterranean cooks but the first varieties have been traced back to Sicily. In the US the leaves are valued while European cooks value the stalks to the point of discarding the leaves or feeding them to animalsTemplate:Fact.

Chard can be harvested while the leaves are young and tender or after maturity when larger have slightly tougher stems. Chard is extremely perishable, so keep refrigerator storage time to a minimum. Store unwashed leaves in plastic bags in the crisper for 2 to 3 days. The stalks can be stored longer if separated from the leaves.

Chard has shiny green ribbed leaves, with stems that range from white to yellow and red depending on the cultivar. It has a slightly bitter taste. The leaves are generally treated in the same way as spinach and the stems like asparagus. Fresh young chard can also be used raw in salads.

Cultivars of chard include green forms, such as 'Lucullus' and 'Fordhook Giant,' as well as red-ribbed forms such as 'Ruby Chard,' 'Rainbow Chard,' and 'Rhubarb Chard.'

Modern cladistic botanical taxonomic systems such as that of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group place chard and the other beets in family Amaranthaceae, but the older systems more likely to be encountered in horticultural sources place them in a family Chenopodiaceae.

Cultivation

Chard will grow in ordinary garden soil, and, like beets, it is best to keep the pH above 6. It may be planted in rows or in beds similarly to spinach but is not susceptible to bolting and can tolerate both hot and cold conditions. Individual well grown plants can become quite large, with leaves two feet tall, but crowded plants will still produce well. The plant is useful to the home gardener since it can be harvested, leaf by leaf, well into the fall and even after the first frosts.

In Australia and New Zealand

Silverbeet is commonly available in Australia and New Zealand, where it is usually named as "silverbeet" and not "chard" (although Rainbow Chard is not usually termed Rainbow Silverbeet -- and many naive consumers refer to silverbeet as "spinach"). The most popular variety is the above-mentioned Fordhook Giant. It is available in bunches in nearly all supermarkets, and fruit and vegetable shops. A significant percentage of Australians incorrectly/mistakenly identify silverbeet as spinach, despite the fact that both spinach and silverbeet are usually available and the major supermarkets correctly label their silverbeet as silverbeet not spinach. Also, some restaurants and other food outlets in Australia advertise a food item as containing spinach, but they substitute the silverbeet for spinach because silverbeet is cheaper.

External links

• More about Swiss Chard from Gardeners Net

• Swiss Chard Recipes from Veg Box Recipes

• Video Recipe for Healthy Heart Tart with Swiss Chard and Gruyere Cheese