Heirloom

Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard

Beta vulgaris

Candy-apple red stems and bronze to dark green, red-veined leaves. Moderate bolt tolerance. NOTE: Young Ruby Red plants may go to seed if exposed to sustained night temperatures in the low 50s; time sowings to avoid these conditions. Decorticated (rubbed), sized seeds.

Harvest

32d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-18 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 brassica →

Zone Map

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Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-8 inches

SoilWell-drained loam, moderately fertile

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMild, slightly sweet earthy flavor with tender red stems and smooth dark green leaves.

ColorRed stems with dark green, red-veined leaves

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	March – April	May – June	May – June	June – October
Zone 4	March – April	May – June	April – June	May – October
Zone 5	February – March	April – May	April – May	May – November
Zone 6	February – March	April – May	April – May	May – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	March – May	April – November
Zone 8	January – February	March – April	March – April	April – December
Zone 9	January – January	February – March	February – March	March – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	January – March	February – December
Zone 1	April – May	June – July	June – July	July – September
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	May – July	June – September
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow Ruby Red Chard every 3 weeks starting March 1 in zone 7, continuing through early May. Pick back up with sowings in late August through September for a fall run — chard handles light frost down to about 28°F and actually sweetens once temperatures drop below 50°F. Skip June through August when daytime highs are consistently above 90°F; germination gets unreliable and plants bolt or turn bitter fast. Each succession gives you harvestable leaves in about 32 days.

Complete Growing Guide

Growing Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard (Beta vulgaris) brassica. Light: Full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 1 to 11. Days to maturity: 32. Difficulty: Easy.

Harvesting

Ready for harvest in 32 days from sowing or transplant. Harvest at peak ripeness for best flavor and storage life. Pick regularly to encourage continued production where applicable.

Storage & Preservation

Store freshly harvested Ruby Red chard in the refrigerator at 32–40°F with high humidity—a perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer works well. Fresh leaves will keep for 7–10 days before wilting noticeably. For longer storage, freezing is ideal: blanch stems and leaves separately for 2–3 minutes, cool quickly in ice water, drain thoroughly, and pack into freezer bags or containers. Frozen chard retains good color and texture for up to eight months. Alternatively, dehydrate leaves at 95–115°F until crisp, then store in airtight containers for herbal tea or soups. Ruby Red's deep pigmentation remains vibrant when frozen, making it excellent for smoothies and cooked dishes where appearance matters. Avoid canning raw chard due to low acidity unless combined with acidified recipes.

History & Origin

Beta vulgaris (beet) is a species of flowering plant in the subfamily Betoideae of the family Amaranthaceae. It is a perennial plant usually growing up to 120 centimetres (4 ft) tall.

Advantages

+Easy to grow — beginner-friendly
+Quick harvest — ready in about 32 days
+Wide hardiness — grows in USDA zones 1-11

Companion Plants

Onions and garlic planted every 12–18 inches through the chard rows help confuse aphids, which locate host plants largely by scent. Marigolds — Tagetes patula specifically, not the big African types — attract predatory wasps that prey on leaf miner adults and also deter spider mites with their root exudates. Radishes and carrots slot in cleanly as row-fillers because their root zones don't compete with chard's relatively shallow system, and they're pulled before they crowd anything. Fennel is the problem plant: it's broadly allelopathic to most brassicas and leafy greens, and it'll stunt neighboring chard noticeably — give it a bed of its own, at least 3 feet away.

Plant Together

Lettuce

Shallow roots don't compete, provides living mulch and maximizes space usage

Onions

Repel aphids, flea beetles, and other pests that commonly attack chard

Garlic

Natural pest deterrent, repels aphids and reduces fungal diseases

Carrots

Deep taproot breaks up soil while chard's shallow roots don't compete

Radishes

Quick-growing, helps break up soil and can be harvested before chard needs full space

Spinach

Similar growing requirements and compatible root systems, good succession planting

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from chard

Keep Apart

Pole Beans

Can shade chard excessively and compete for nutrients in the root zone

Corn

Creates too much shade and competes heavily for nutrients, stunting chard growth

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most garden plants including chard

Nutrition Facts

Calories

31kcal(2%)

Protein

2.57g(5%)

Fiber

2.4g(9%)

Carbs

6.27g(2%)

Fat

0.34g(0%)

Vitamin C

91.3mg(101%)

Vitamin A

8mcg(1%)

Vitamin K

102mcg(85%)

Iron

0.69mg(4%)

Calcium

46mg(4%)

Potassium

303mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #747447)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Flea beetles, spider mites, aphids, leaf miners

Diseases

Leaf spot, powdery mildew, downy mildew

Troubleshooting Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Tiny irregular holes punched through young leaves, mostly on seedlings under 4 inches tall

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) — small, jumping beetles that feed heavily on tender new growth
Plants stressed by inconsistent watering, which makes them slower to outgrow the damage

What to Do

1.Cover seedlings immediately with row cover (Agribon AG-19 or similar) and seal the edges — flea beetles find plants by sight and smell, and exclusion works better than sprays
2.Water consistently so plants grow fast enough to push past the vulnerable seedling stage
3.If pressure is severe, spinosad-based sprays are effective but apply in the evening to protect pollinators

Pale, winding trails or blotches tunneled through the leaf surface, mid-season

Likely Causes

Leaf miners (Liriomyza spp.) — the larvae tunnel between the upper and lower leaf surfaces after eggs are laid by a small adult fly
Dense plantings that make it harder to spot and remove affected leaves early

What to Do

1.Pick off and trash any leaf showing active tunnels — the larva is still inside and you'll break the cycle
2.Don't compost infested leaves; leaf miner pupae can overwinter in debris and reinfest the next planting
3.Row cover at transplant or direct sow prevents the adult fly from laying eggs in the first place

Grayish-white powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing after day 50 in warm, dry spells

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew — a fungal disease that spreads via airborne spores and thrives when days are warm (70–85°F) and nights are cool
Overcrowded spacing below 6 inches that restricts airflow between plants

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 6–8 inches apart and thin hard if you direct-seeded thick — airflow is your first line of defense
2.Strip heavily coated leaves and bin them; don't let them drop and sit on the soil
3.A diluted baking soda spray (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or neem oil applied every 7 days can slow spread on plants you want to save

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Ruby Red Chard take to grow?▼

Ruby Red Chard reaches harvest maturity in approximately 32 days from transplant or direct sowing. However, you can begin harvesting outer leaves earlier at around 20-25 days for baby greens. The exact timeline depends on growing conditions, light availability, and temperature consistency. This relatively quick harvest window makes it an excellent choice for succession planting throughout the growing season.

Is Ruby Red Chard good for beginners?▼

Yes, Ruby Red Chard is rated as an easy-to-grow variety, making it ideal for beginner gardeners. It tolerates a wide range of conditions and has moderate bolt tolerance, meaning it resists premature flowering under many circumstances. The main consideration is avoiding sustained cool nights in the low 50s during early growth, as young plants may bolt prematurely in these conditions. Otherwise, it's quite forgiving.

Can you grow Ruby Red Chard in containers?▼

Yes, Ruby Red Chard grows well in containers. Use a pot at least 12 inches deep with well-draining potting soil. Space plants 6-8 inches apart, or thin seedlings accordingly. Container growing allows better temperature control, which is beneficial given the variety's sensitivity to cool night temperatures. Containers also make it easy to move plants to optimal light conditions or bring them in if frost threatens.

What does Ruby Red Chard taste like?▼

Ruby Red Chard has a mild, slightly sweet earthy flavor similar to other chard varieties, with tender stems and smooth leaves. The candy-apple red stems are edible and tender when young, adding a subtle sweetness. The dark green leaves have a gentle mineral undertone. Overall, it's less bitter than some greens, making it approachable for those new to cooking with chard.

When should I plant Ruby Red Chard to avoid bolting?▼

Ruby Red Chard is sensitive to sustained night temperatures in the low 50s when plants are young, which can trigger premature bolting. Plant after the risk of prolonged cool nights has passed, or time successive plantings for spring and fall seasons when temperatures are more stable. In mild climates, fall planting often succeeds better. Harden off seedlings gradually to acclimate them before transplanting.

How much sun and space does Ruby Red Chard need?▼

Ruby Red Chard requires full sun for best growth and color development, ideally 6-8 hours daily. Space plants 6-8 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation and room for leaves to expand. Adequate spacing reduces disease risk and produces larger, more flavorful leaves. Crowded plants may be stunted or more susceptible to fungal issues.