One Seed Lambton
One Seed Lambton provides resources and free vegetable seeds to help anyone learn food-growing skills, from beginners to advanced.
Selected Garden Seed
Rainbow Swiss Chard
The selected seed for 2026 is Rainbow Swiss Chard.
Rainbow Swiss Chard is a Garden Hero! The leaves and stalks are edible, it offers fresh greens in summer when spinach and lettuce bolt, and it can tolerate light frosts in fall.
- Germination occurs in 1-2 weeks.
- Brightly coloured stems of yellow, crimson, gold, orange, violet, purple, white, green and pink with contrasting dark green, crinkled leaves.
- Leaves have a lighter taste than the standard chard.
- Grows 60-80 cm in height.
- As Rainbow produces such a colourful display, it is often used as an ornamental in flower gardens and containers.
- Sow seed about 1-2 cm deep and 2.5 cm apart in rows 45 cm apart starting in mid spring. Sowing seed every two weeks until early summer will ensure continuous supply.
- Gradually thin out seedlings to 10 cm apart using the thinnings as baby greens.
- On older plants, harvest outer leaves first by cutting at the base of the stem then working towards the centre as you go.
Visit your local library today to pick up your seeds!
Enjoy a Rainbow Swiss Chard recipe from Canada's Food Guide
Braised lentils with greens
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Events
Garden Seeds
Garden Seeds are available at all Lambton County Library locations every year from March 1 to October 1 as part of our Library of Things collection. This seasonal collection provides vegetable and herb seed varieties to help you grow your own garden at home.