Crop type: Chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens Bright Lights (‘Bright Lights’)
Common name: Chard ‘Bright Lights’
Crop slug: chard
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Bright Lights’ is a colourful biennial chard mixture grown for edible leaves and stems. Individual plants carry stalks in a range of red, yellow and orange shades, with the wider mixture also noted for gold, pink, violet, green, white and occasionally striped stems. Foliage above paler stalks tends to be green, while plants with darker stalks can develop bronze-toned leaves. The mixture is both productive and exceptionally ornamental.
It is usually treated as an annual vegetable, although plants may overwinter where soil does not stay excessively wet. Young foliage makes attractive baby leaves and mature stalks and blades can be cooked separately. ‘Bright Lights’ holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The profile also records beetroot ‘Bright Lights’ as another common name and Beta vulgaris ‘Bright Lights’ as a synonym.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
Allow full-sized plants enough room to form open leafy rosettes. For ornamental planting, seedlings can be selected by stem colour while young and grown on individually to create a deliberate colour arrangement.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, clay, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid or neutral
Grow in fertile ground that retains a steady supply of water but drains freely. Organic matter helps support repeated leaf production and prevents abrupt moisture fluctuations. Avoid low spots that remain saturated over winter, as excessive wetness reduces the chance of plants surviving into a second season.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun or partial shade
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H3 — hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK, tolerating approximately -5°C to 1°C
An open sunny site encourages strong growth and vivid stalk colour, although the crop tolerates light shade in summer. Shelter protects broad leaves from wind damage.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
The cultivar is defined by its multicoloured stems. Spring and summer plants may display green, red, yellow and orange stalks beneath green or bronze-tinged foliage. A seed-grown population naturally varies, so a group gives a rainbow effect rather than a single uniform colour. The glossy leaves and bright midribs make it useful in vegetable beds, edible borders and containers.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Name status
- Trade
- Synonym
- Beta vulgaris ‘Bright Lights’
Genus
Beta includes annual, biennial and perennial plants, often with basal rosettes and thick fleshy roots. Cultivated members include chard, beetroot and sugar beet.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in an open sunny position in fertile soil, with some summer shade acceptable. Sow directly from spring into midsummer or raise seedlings in modules. Thin or transplant for full-sized rosettes, water during dry spells and harvest outer leaves regularly while retaining the central growing point. July-sown plants can provide autumn and winter leaves where conditions are mild and drainage is good.
For baby-leaf use, sow more closely and cut young foliage repeatedly. When grown ornamentally, combine several differently coloured plants so the characteristic range of stalk shades is visible.
Propagation
Propagate by seed. Because ‘Bright Lights’ is a mixture, seedlings should be expected to show natural variation in stem and foliage colour.
Pruning
No pruning is required. Remove outer leaves cleanly when large enough to harvest and clear damaged foliage that could harbour disease.
Pests
Birds may pull up and eat young seedlings, and flea beetles may mark foliage. Protect vulnerable sowings and maintain steady growth so plants quickly outgrow minor damage.
Diseases
May be susceptible to downy mildews and grey moulds. Avoid overcrowding, maintain airflow around the rosettes and remove decaying leaves promptly, particularly in damp weather.