Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ is a fun plant for both the flower garden and vegetable garden. It grows 20″ tall with bright stalks and leaf veins in bold shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, purple and white.
The puckered green leaves are glossy and contrast beautifully with the colorful stalks and veins. While it has all the flair of an ornamental plant, ‘Bright Lights’ is a full-fledged vegetable. The nutritious leaves can be harvested all season long (just cut back to within 2 inches of the crown) for steaming or sauteing.
I haven’t had any problems with slugs or beetles munching on the leaves, but bunnies sometimes find the neon salad bar irresistible. You can start the plants from seed inside or out. I’ve had great luck sowing seeds inside and transplanting the young plants to my garden. That way I can choose which colors I want.