Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris
Origin: Palestine
Improvement status: Landrace
Seeds per packet: ~50
Germination tested 12/2022: 68%
Life cycle: Annual
Lovely Palestinian chard with bright green leaves and thin white stems. These types are sometimes referred to as "cicla" varieties (which likely comes from the Arabic word for chard, which is "silq"), or in English "spinach chard." While most chards have thick stems and are biennials, most "cicla" types are thin-stemmed and annuals, which makes them great for seed savers. In certain climates and situations, these plants might produce seed their first summer but then still survive to produce more vegetative growth (and we'd appreciate it if any of you in warmer areas can report back to us if you end up with any that perennialize!). We've loved eating this variety for its tender, mild-flavored leaves. It's great both raw or cooked. Plants are vigorous and productive.
These seeds were grown by EFN co-founder Nate Kleinman at the flagship EFN research farm in Elmer, NJ. 50% of sales go to the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library.
