When planning a personal plot, I want to make it not only beautiful, but also useful. In such cases, plants that have a magnificent view and a lot of vitamins come to the rescue. This includes chard. The beneficial properties of this plant have been known for a long time. It is successfully cultivated in many countries, and the Mediterranean is considered the birthplace of chard. Unfortunately, in our country it is given little attention, undeservedly ignored. But it is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Perhaps this article will change the situation for the better.
What is chard
This is a type of beet with a high content of nutrients. Chard is classified as a biennial plant and is considered a subspecies of the common beet. This culture has existed for more than 3 thousand years. In ancient Rome, not a single feast was complete without chard dishes.
That's why this vegetable is called "Roman cabbage". Chard, whose beneficial properties are known all over the world,it is also a beautiful ornamental plant. Its bright ground part will decorate any flower bed. Different varieties of this vegetable have a red, yellow, silver and green color. The easy-to-grow chard will become a favorite plant in your yard.
Views
Unlike beets, chard has no root. He does not create it. Its main advantage is the leaves and petioles. It is in them that the bulk of useful substances accumulate. There are two types of this vegetable: leaf and petiole. Swiss chard has a well-developed, lush rosette.
Its succulent leaves are located on thin petioles. They are used to make salads or cabbage rolls. Petiole chard has its own differences. First of all, these are thick wide petioles, which are used similarly to asparagus. They, like the leaves, are boiled, steamed and used to prepare other dishes. The root of all kinds has a rod shape.
Useful properties
Chard, whose beneficial properties can be used to enrich the body with vitamins in early spring, is often compared with spinach. The leaves of these plants are a low-calorie product, but very useful. Chard leaves contain about 13 antioxidants. One of the main components is syringic acid. This substance is able to control blood sugar levels. In addition, chard is a source of phytonutrients or betalains. They are good at removing toxins from the body.
Chard contains many vitamins, phosphorus, iron and carotene. Its use improves the functioning of the digestive tract and normalizes blood pressure. 100 grams of cooked chard contains 38 percent of the daily value of vitamin A, 300% of the daily value of vitamin K, and 22% of the daily value of vitamin C. Only spinach exceeds these figures. That's why beetroot chard is considered one of the he althiest vegetables.
Sowing
Changd, which does not require much agrotechnical knowledge, is sown from early spring to June. First, you need to soak the seeds in warm water for a day. Tanks for sowing should be spacious. It is better to plant seedlings in open ground, because the earth must be warm. The soil for planting should not be acidic. Chard, whose beneficial properties will be fully manifested in an adult plant, needs natural nutrition.
Therefore, a little organic fertilizer or charcoal can be added to the soil, which will reduce acidity and enrich it with potassium. The seeding depth is 2-3 cm. Landing is carried out at a distance of 5 centimeters. Plants need to be thinned out as they germinate to ensure good ventilation and good nutrition. Between adult plants, the distance should be 10-12 centimeters. Only in this case you can get large and juicy rosettes.
Growing
This plant does not require special care. It is necessary to carry out standard agrotechnical measures. First of all, thisloosening the soil. The roots of the plant are very long and branched, so even before planting it is necessary to dig the soil well and deeply. The second step is weed control. Parasitic plants will interfere with the full development of the culture. Leaf beets should be watered as needed. The plant does not like excess moisture, but the drying of the soil should also not be allowed. Chard is a photophilous plant, so it is better to plant it in well-lit areas. The optimum temperature for growing is -25 degrees, but this vegetable easily tolerates heat. Chard goes well with carrots, lettuce, onions and cabbage. It is not advisable to plant it next to spinach.
Harvesting
The first fruits of their labors can be obtained as early as 30 days after planting. The more you cut the leaves from the outlet, the thicker they will grow. Usually produce a collection of large leaves. After 7-8 days, small leaves will grow and make up the next crop. About 25% of the leaves can be cut from one bush at a time. They are located on the outside of the outlet at a height of about three centimeters. The main thing is not to damage the center of the outlet, the growth point.
It is believed that if the chard is grown in the dark, then its leaves are more tender. In autumn, you can leave the plant in the ground, as it is not afraid of frost. But if severe frosts are expected, then it is better to dig up the roots, bury them in a box of sand and put them in the basement. Chard is a biennial plant. In the second year, the plant will develop flowers and seeds. The most popular varieties are Spinach,Scarlet, Red-crowned, White.
Chard in cooking
How is chard used? Varieties of this plant are successfully eaten, since its main feature is the presence of a large number of useful substances. It is added to salads, canned, used to make cabbage rolls and soup. Thick petioles of this vegetable canned, boiled, fried in breadcrumbs. Boiling a plant is a special process. The first water after boiling must be drained, as it accumulates about 50% of all nitrates. Next, you should cook the vegetable in new water. In salads, chard goes well not only with other vegetables, but also with various types of meat and cheese.
