Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights'

Pot up plugs and grow them on in a frost free position until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be planted outdoors. Grow leaf beet in firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in sun or semi shade. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Plant leaf beet at a distance of 30cm (12") apart, and water thoroughly after planting. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects.

Swiss chard is easy to grow and requires little aftercare. Water when necessary and hoe between plants regularly to prevent weeds from establishing. Leaf beet will also appreciate an application of a high nitrogen fertiliser during the growing season. Leaf beet can be harvested from July by picking a few leaves at a time, snapping them off near the base of the plant. Alternatively, cut the entire plant back to 2.5cm (1") above ground level and new leaves will shoot from the base. Harvest leaf beet when it is required as the leaves do not store for long, unless they are frozen. Culinary note: Leaf beet can be frozen.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.

Van Meuwen strives to ensure that all its plants are delivered to you in the perfect condition for planting. While the majority of our nursery plants cope well with slight delays in intransit, sadly, the time it takes to deliver to certain locations in the UK means that we can't guarantee this for some of our smaller plug products and tender bedding and vegetable lines, which do not respond well to the extra journey time. So regretfully while we offer the majority of our live plant offering nationwide, we are unable to ship plugs, begging plants and tender vegetable plants to the following areas: HS, IV41-IV49, IV51, IV55-56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.