"Vulcan" Swiss chard is an attractive, hardy, and high-yielding variety of rhubarb chard known for its bright red stems and green to purple leaves. It is an easy-to-grow, open-pollinated vegetable developed in Switzerland that is popular for its flavor and ornamental value.
Vulcan Swiss Chard Characteristics
Appearance: This variety is very decorative, featuring striking, deep crimson stalks that contrast beautifully with its lush green to purple leaves.
Flavor: It has a good, slightly earthy flavor, with the young leaves offering a spinach-like taste that can be used raw in salads. The stems are also edible and tasty when cooked.
Growing Profile: It is a cool-season, frost-tolerant crop that can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It is a "cut-and-come-again" variety, meaning you can harvest the outer leaves continuously throughout a long growing season.
Hardiness: Reviewers and experts note its hardiness, with some successfully growing it through mild winters (down to about 15 degrees F). It is also considered relatively drought-tolerant for a leafy green.
Maturity: It is a quick-growing crop, typically ready for harvest in about 60 days.