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Annual Biennial

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens 'Fantasy'

chard 'Fantasy'

A leaf beet variety considered to be the best tasting Red Chard with a mild, juicy flavour and no harsh after taste. It shows excellent tolerance to downy mildew and can be successionally sown throughout Spring and Summer for a harvest of baby leaf or mature leaves

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Amaranthaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Beta can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, often with rosettes of basal leaves and thick, fleshy roots. The genus includes a range of wild species, as well as cultivated food crops such as beetroot, chard and sugar beet
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, rich, free draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Sow direct between March and July, 2.5cm deep and 10cm apart or sow indoors in modules and transplant when large enough to handle. See vegetable cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds. Shows excellent tolerance to downy mildew

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