Chard Varieties for Mediterranean Gardens

Chard is a relatively easy vegetable that offers abundant yields, and is one of the most consistently productive greens during warm weather. It an ideal fall vegetable for Mediterranean gardens.

In general, green-leafed, white-stalked chard varieties produce greater yields, are more heat-tolerant, and resist bolting longer than the red and multi-colored varieties. Fordhook Giant is the stand-out chard variety for gracefully providing yields of large leaves over long periods of up to a year or two when kept well-watered and shaded during hot summers, and protected from frosts. Lucullus is another reliable green-leafed variety.

Red and other colors of chard generally produce smaller leaves, are less tolerant of both heat and cold, are more generally prone to bolting, and have shorter harvest periods than green-leafed and white-stalked varieties, but they offer the benefit of incredible beauty in your garden and on your dinner plate, and for gourmet cooks and selective gardeners, subtle differences in flavor and function for cooking. Ruby Red and Rhubarb are good choices for red chard, but tend to bolt in summer heat, winter cold, dry periods, or when temperatures are below 50°F. Bright Lights, Rainbow, and Five Color Silverbeet are popular multi-colored varieties, and add welcome bursts of reds, oranges, pinks, and purples.

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