When planning a personal plot, I want to make it not only beautiful, but also useful. In such cases, plants that have a magnificent appearance and a lot of vitamins come to the rescue. These include 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 they pay little attention to it, undeservedly ignoring it. But this is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Perhaps this article will change the situation for the better.
What is chard
This is a variety of beets with a high content of nutrients. Chard is referred to as biennial plants and is considered a subspecies of 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 is why this vegetable is called "Roman cabbage." Chard, the beneficial properties of which are known throughout the world, is also a beautiful ornamental plant. Its bright ground part will decorate any flower bed. Different varieties of this vegetable are red, yellow, silver and green. Chard, the cultivation of which will not be difficult, will become a favorite plant in your area.
Kinds
Unlike beets, chard lacks a root crop. He does not form it. Its main advantage is leaves and petioles. It is in them that the bulk of useful substances accumulate. There are two types of this vegetable: leaf and petiole. Chard leaf beet has a well-developed, lush rosette.
Its juicy leaves are located on thin petioles. They are used for the preparation of salads or cabbage rolls. Petio 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 species has a rod shape.
Beneficial features
Chard, the beneficial properties of which 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 lilac acid. This substance is able to control blood sugar. In addition, beetroot is a source of phytonutrients or betalaines. They well remove toxins from the body.
Chard contains many vitamins, phosphorus, iron and carotene. Its use improves the digestive tract and normalizes blood pressure. 100 grams of boiled chard contains 38 percent of the daily intake of vitamin A, 300% of the daily intake of vitamin K, and 22% of the daily intake of vitamin C. These figures exceed only spinach. That is why beet chard is considered one of the
most healthy vegetables.
Sowing
Chard, the cultivation of which does not require great agricultural knowledge, is sown from early spring to June. First you need to soak the seeds in warm water for a day. Sowing containers should be spacious. In open ground, it is better to plant seedlings, because the earth should be warm. Planting soil should not be acidic. Chard, the beneficial properties of which are 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. Seeding depth is 2-3 centimeters. Landing is carried out at a distance of 5 centimeters. As you germinate, you need to thin out the plants to provide good ventilation and good nutrition. Between adult plants, the distance should be 10-12 centimeters. Only in this case can you get large and juicy sockets.
Growing
This plant does not require special care. It is necessary to carry out standard agricultural activities. First of all, this is loosening the soil. The roots of the plant are very long and branched, so even before planting, you need to dig the soil well and deeply. The second stage is weed control. Parasitic plants will interfere with the full development of the culture. Watering the leaf beets should be carried out as necessary. The plant does not like excess moisture, but drying of the soil should also not be allowed. Mangold is a photophilous plant, therefore it is better to plant it in well-lit areas. The optimum temperature for growing is -25 degrees, but this vegetable can easily tolerate heat. Chard is well adjacent to 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 already on the 30th day after planting. The more the leaves are cut from the outlet, the thicker they will grow. Usually produce 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, it is better to dig out the roots, bury them in a box with sand and put 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, Krasnochereshkovy, Belovinka.
Chard in cooking
How to use chard? Varieties of this plant are successfully used in food, since its main feature is the presence of a large number of useful substances. It is added to salads, canned, used for making cabbage rolls and soup. Thick petioles of this vegetable canned, boiled, fried in breadcrumbs. Cooking plants is a special process. After boiling, the first water must be drained, since about 50% of all nitrates accumulate in it. Next, you should cook the vegetable already in new water. In salads, chard goes well not only with other vegetables, but also with various types of meat and cheese.