VegetableChard
Magenta Sunset Swiss Chard
Magenta Sunset Swiss Chard brings theatrical color to the vegetable garden with its striking neon pink stems that practically glow against deep green leaves. This variety matures in just 45 days, making it one of the faster Swiss chard options, and grows to 18-24 inches tall, fitting neatly into beds, borders, or containers. The smooth leaves reach up to two feet in length and deliver a continuous harvest throughout the summer season across zones 3-10, thriving in full sun. Both stems and leaves are edible, offering an earthy, spinach-like flavor that works beautifully in fresh salads or cooked preparations.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The combination of heat tolerance and early maturity makes Magenta Sunset exceptionally productive, rewarding you with repeated harvests from a single planting. Its smooth green foliage and hot pink stems create a dramatic visual contrast that transforms the edible garden into something almost ornamental. The earthy flavor balances the plant's theatrical appearance, proving this variety delivers real eating quality beneath its stunning good looks.
Common Uses
Use this Swiss chard raw in salads where its smooth leaves showcase the variety's beautiful color and earthy flavor, or cook both stems and leaves as a side dish. The tender foliage works in any preparation you'd normally use spinach, while the substantial pink stems deserve their own spotlight: sauté them separately with garlic or add them to grain bowls for textural contrast.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in the garden once soil has warmed in spring, or succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting outer leaves once the plant reaches a workable size, typically around 45 days from sowing. Pinch or cut leaves at the base of their stems rather than harvesting the entire plant, which encourages continued production throughout the season. The smooth leaves are ready to eat fresh and tender; wait too long and they become tougher, though they remain perfectly usable for cooking. This continuous picking method keeps the plant productive from midsummer until frost.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
beta vulgaris subsp. circla
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Beta
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)