[viettaclark]

It's happened again! Last year the grandson muddled up my all seed labels and I gave away the wrong tomatoes on Freecycle...this year I think I've put 2 labels round the wrong way; Bright lights and a green pak choi.
I THINK I know but could anyone growing Bright Lights confirm it, please?
One lot of seedlings have red stems and longer more pointy first leaves than the others which have thicker white stems,more rounded bright green leaves and germinated faster and better.
It's not the end of the world but it would be nice to know.......(sorry no camera!)

[missmenace]

Sounds to me like the red ones are chard. Thats what mine looked like when I grew it from seed last year. Isn't 'bright lights' a mix though? So would expect some different colours, mine are yellow, pink, red and 'normal' green, still going strong. (Though the 'normal' chard seems to be more robust)

Never grown pak choi but would expect that to be the green one with thicker white stems.

Don't take my word for it though, I'm sure a proper expert will be along in a minute.

[arugula]

We've never had red stems on pak choi. We haven't got the chard "Bright Lights" going yet, but it sounds as though you have them identified correctly.

[bigben]

I think Argyllie is right - swiss chard has red stems and I think bright lights is similar. Pak Choi is green if I remember from two years ago.

[viettaclark]

Thanks all! I'll swop them round. Also noticed a pot where no toms have come up yet but all the others have so I probably forgot the seeds....doh!

[Lottie Mary]

I'm growing Bright Lights and definitely have some red stems coming up, and some green - can't wait for these multicoloured jewels to brighten up my allotment! 

[Jome]

Yes you are right the coloured Chard 'Bright lights' are a mixed variety pack of different coloured chards, yellow, green and red stemmed. I grow them every year so am very familiar with them. The thick stems are definitely pak choi as I grow that too and sounds just like what you have described!

[Kleftiwallah]

Chard seed looks very much like beetroot seed.  :blink:  Any help ? ? ?   Cheers,   Tony.

[stompy]

Have any of you tried chards to eat?
I grew it but didn't eat it, it seemed a bit tough!

[gazza975526570]

ive got a pack of this too. Never eaten it - dont know if to give it a try or just not bother. No idea how you cook it or eat it with either!!!

[savbo]

pick them young, I strip the leaf off the stalk by running it though my fingers, cook the stalks separately or for a bit longer than the leaves, lovely in a curry

[JaK]

I have only eaten the small leaves in salads. They look and taste great in a bowl of mixed salad leaves. I'm growing some for the first time this year so I will be able to try it cooked too.
Also... saw (on TV) Nigel Slater cook some in a broth the other night, looked yummy!

[gillian62]

The chickens loved them last year!!
Good crop as it keeps on growing, and not too much space used for them either.

[Lottie Mary]

I put some bright lights in a Spanish omelette last year - I chopped up the stalks and fried them with onion and then added the leaves later like spinach.  It was absolutely delicious!!!!

[mumofstig]

I only grow the white chard but i chop it and put it into a nonstick pan, with just the rinsing water on it, lots of black pepper and a small knob of butter/flora, and just cook it very quickly till it wilts.
Or just wilt it and stir in some olive oil and lemon juice and black pepper

I love the stuff