There’s countless seed developers, distributors and garden centres that claim – on a semi-regular basis – to have found “the ultimate” single crop for growing at home. “If you grow just one crop”, they say, “let it be this one!” Well that’s far easier said than done, especially when you’re being recommended a dozen that are all, categorically, “the best”.
Well, despite their being a range of crops we think are all worth trying out – and many of which work brilliantly in closed-space containers and raised planters – in our opinion, there really is only one “best” crop: the Swiss Chard “bright lights”. It’s visually stunning, nutrient rich and taste and texture superb.
In the following, we’ve tried to explain a little about this gorgeous variety, discussing how it came to be, what it’s stand-out features are, and finally, why it grows so well in our Ergrownomics raised planter. Feel free to skip ahead if there’s an area that you’re most intrigued by!
In the beginning
To start, it’s worth noting that this isn’t technically a heritage variety – although it’s a far-cry from the type of hybridisation we understand today! Since 1945 and the advent of industrial farming, seed producers have prioritised varieties best suited for commercial growers – valuing uniformity and consistency far above taste, texture and interesting variation. To meet the needs of a hungry nation, hybridisation emerged as the fastest and most cost-effective way of carrying out research, and developing those new varieties with the most valuable traits. It’s the offspring of these varieties that fill most Garden Centre stands!
‘Bright Lights”, on the other hand, wasn’t born from clinical trials rushed to meet industrial quotas – it’s the product of a dedicated, amateur plantsman’s desire to produce something better. In his garden in Lower Butt (Wellington, New Zealand), Mr John Eaton worked quietly in his garden for a period of over 15 years (1977-1992) – using open-air pollination to cross a traditional white chard, and a traditional crimson one. This breeding programme presumably began when Eaton’s early trials revealed persistent “single-chance” colour variations; it is by crossing these (effective) mutations over several generations, based on their similarity, that Eaton eventually produced a stable variety possessed of nine distinct colours (in addition to the original crimson and white)!
These vibrant colours (which extend from the stem into the leaves' midriffs and secondary veins) include lemon yellow, canary yellow, gold, rose pink, red, apricot, orange, purple, crimson, white and bi-colours (a sort of ‘bin end’). The different colours are paired with leaves which are either dark green (in healthy foliage) or bronze, depending on the stalk colour (with red and purple stemmed plants most inclined to display the latter). In this way, “Bright Lights” was created and named.
One common criticism of hybridisation is that pursuing the opportunity to enhance one trait typically devalues or reduces the others – usually taste and texture! This is a trap, however, that Eaton managed to avoid: the leaves of “Bright Lights” are comparatively thinner, less ruffled and less glossy than other varieties of chard, and are as a result more tender, while its flavour is milder and subtler. It was recognised for these virtues first in 1998 with an All-America Selections Award, and later with a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2000.
What makes it so special?
“Bright Lights” is often renowned for its help with a number of health conditions, and it is particularly valuable as a strong source of folic acid and iron, to aid with pregnancy. It also contains syringic acid and fibre which are very important to regulating blood sugar, and so can also help with diabetes. This high fibre content, mixed with chlorophyll, can also help reduce the risk of colon cancer, and its unusual colours indicate a high beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin content – all of which are very important for eye health. Finally, Bright Lights is a good source of quercetin, which acts as a natural antihistamine and helps reduce allergic reaction.
What’s more, “Bright Lights”, in common with most Chards, has often been described as an anti-oxidant powerhouse. It contains high concentrations of Vitamin K (692% RDA*), Vitamin A (204% RDA), Vitamin C (50% RDA) and Vitamin E (12.5% RDA). In addition, it is also an excellent source of iron (22.5% RDA), magnesium (20% RDA), copper (20% RDA) and potassium (8% RDA).
*Based on 100 grams of raw chard.
How to grow in a raised planter or bed?
As far as reliability is concerned, Swiss Chard will forever be one of the best green vegetables for home growing! This is particularly true in the summer months where it is far less prone to bolt than spinach, and not subject to the same predation by caterpillars that afflicts brassicas (cabbages). In fact, it’s largely insect resistant, aside from the occasional aphid and leaf-miner infestation – both of which are easily managed. It can, however, be prone to downy (powdery) mildew.
Our Ergrownomics self-watering raised planter offers the ideal conditions for growing “Bright Lights”, and can provide a suitable medium for growing baby leaf from early spring (it can be sown outdoors from mid-March approximately 2 weeks before the last frost), and for harvesting through to mid-Summer. It may also be sown in the mid-Summer for harvesting mature leaf during the autumn (and also a substantial part of the winter as it takes an extended period of cold before the plant enters dormancy).
Moreover, “Bright Lights” is really easy to grow from seed – helped by the fact it’s large at 2-3mm across, so is easy to handle and place accurately into the drills. It germinates reliably from fresh seed at greater than 6 degrees, although greater than 10 degrees is optimal. Container growing means that you can plant earlier and harvest later, due to the soil reaching these temperatures more easily than conventional raised beds!
One thing to note is that “Bright Lights” can be prone to bolting if the soils become dry, or if the water supply is intermittent. Fortunately, our self-watering raised planter features a RainBird drip irrigation system, supplied as standard. This allows for regular watering with a consistent wetting pattern, and our filter-drainage means that your soils will never become saturated!
Our planter is also designed to work seamlessly with our patented Plant Training® system, maintaining airflow around your planting rows and so reducing the risk of mildew, while also allowing access for a natural soap spray to remove aphids, and to identify surface “mines” which would indicate the presence of leafminers. Our training system also assists with out-planting, where the plants are often liable to lose turgidity for a period afterwards. Our system will support young plants, keeping them upright, and reducing the risk of contact with the soil surface, as well as the chance of slug and snail damage.
Finally, “Bright Lights” is well suited to container growing due to its hearting habit. By this, we’re referring to the fact that new leaves emerge through the centre of the plant, displacing the outer leaves and promoting them for picking (they should be separated from the stem approximately 25mm from the surface). New growth is encouraged by frequent picking, and your training system greatly assists with this! When picked, chard leaves will wilt quickly, however they can also be revitalised by plunging into cold water before use!
We hope that you've find this helpful, and that it's also given you a good indication of why we prize “Bright Lights” so highly. All planter purchases give access to our online SOFTWARE resource, providing more information and examples of the crops we recommend, as well as the technical and logistical aspects of planting and picking. Feel free to check out our shop and see what we have to offer!