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VARIETIES of CHARDThere are numerous varieties of Chard belonging to two Groups, the Cicla-Group and the Flavescens-Group. The two shown here, Ruby Chard and Swiss Chard, both belong to the Cicla-Group. Amongst the many cultivars are Swiss Chard, Luculus Chard (which has white stems) and Fordhook Giant Chard possess no red. Ruby Chard, Burgundy Chard and Rhubarb Chard have bright red stems with deep ribs. There are many others.
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RUBY CHARD |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
There were 2 to 3 varieties of Chard growing in the same large arable field. This variety caught my eye first with its bright-red stems. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves green and alternate up the stem. Stem sinuous. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Stem thick at the bottom and with deep ribs. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The sinuous ribs of the stem and its bright-red colour also make this an attractive garden plant; one which can also be eaten. Leaves crinkly. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Some stems have 'arm-pits' where a branch takes off from the main stem. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
lower stem. Leaves have red veins. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves with prominent red mid-rib and narrower red veins branching out to the leaf edges. Both leaves and stem are edible, or so your Author thinks. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
A lower leaf with striking red veins. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Some specimens are about 1.5m tall and are flowering at the top. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers/fruits. |
SWISS CHARD |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
There may possibly be 2 species of Swiss Chard here, those on the right being much taller and flowering, whilst those on the left much shorter, leafier and not flowering. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The left-most ones. The stems are short but still deeply ribbed. Perhaps these are being grown mainly for their leaves? |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Left-most ones. The stems are pale-green to white without any hint of red, so too the wide mid-rib of the leaves. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Whereas the right-most rows are much taller with many branches, and flowering at the summit. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
It is possible that these have been abandoned in the field; your Author thought that flowering was did not enhance the edible product, but rather sapped energy. |
24th May 2016, arable fields, Ormskirk, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers/fruits. |
Not to be semantically confused with : Some similarities to : Sea Beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima) to which the cultivated leafy vegetables are all related. There are many slightly differing Chards cultivated for various aesthetic, taste, growability or reliability reasons. Rhubarb Chard also has ribbed red stems. The so-called 'Rainbow Chard' is simply a bunched mixture of different-coloured chards sold in bundles to catch the shoppers eye, it is not a separate cultivar.
All these Chards are derived from
Chard is harvested in the Spring but most of these specimens have flowered, possibly too early because of the very mild and sunny month of May in 2016, which according to averages published by the met office, was warmer than June, July or August of the same year! Young fresh can be eaten raw as a salad but mature leaves are cooked, which reduces their bitterness. Your Author has never had chard, and wonders if he is missing anything?
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vulgaris ssp. vulgaris ![]() |
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