Growing Rainbow Swiss Chard: A Colorful, Nutritious Garden Star

If you’re looking to add a burst of color to your vegetable garden, Rainbow Swiss Chard is your go-to crop. With vivid stems in shades of red, pink, yellow, orange, and white, and lush green leaves, it’s as decorative as it is nutritious. Surprisingly, when young, its appearance closely resembles red-veined sorrel—another leafy green with vibrant red veins and bright green leaves.

🌿 How to Grow Rainbow Swiss Chard

• Planting Time: Early spring or late summer
• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Rich, well-drained
• Spacing: Thin to 6–12 inches apart
• Harvest: Pick baby leaves in 4–6 weeks, full-sized stalks in ~60 days

🌱 Pro tip: Cut outer leaves first and let the center grow for continuous harvest.

💚 Why Grow It?

• Nutrient-rich: Vitamins A, K, and C
• Hardy: Tolerates both cool and warm seasons
• Culinary uses: Add to soups, stir-fries, or eat raw in salads

🥬 Chard vs. Sorrel: A Visual Comparison

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

At a glance—especially as seedlings—it’s easy to confuse the two.

Both plants share broad, leafy greens with eye-catching veins. Here’s how they compare: