Bright Lights
Amaranthaceae
Swiss Chard
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AI-generated botanical watercolor illustration of Swiss Chard.
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Bright Lights, introduced in the 1990s, is actually a blend of colored chard varieties that had been grown separately for centuries. The rainbow mix was an instant hit and remains the most popular chard for home gardens.
Swiss chard is one of the ultimate PNW crops — it thrives in our mild climate and produces for 8+ months from a single planting. Bright Lights adds stunning color to the garden (stems in neon pink, yellow, orange, red, and white). Plant once in April, harvest June through February. It survives winter temperatures to about 20°F. An absolute must-grow for Bainbridge gardens.
Direct sow in early spring (March-April) or late summer (August) for fall. Chard seed clusters contain 2-4 seeds — sow 1/2" deep, 4 clusters per sq ft. Thin to the strongest seedling per cluster. Chard is a cut-and-come-again crop: harvest outer leaves when they are 8-12" long, leaving the inner 3-4 leaves to keep growing. Never cut the central growing point. Water consistently — drought stress makes leaves tough and bitter. Chard will produce from June through February in the PNW — it is incredibly productive. Overwintered plants will bolt in spring — pull them then.