Chard is SO much easier to grow than spinach... which, every time I grow it, seems to be perfect one day and then totally bolted the next.
I don't like it very well raw, either, but sauteed with some garlic... yum!
Robyn, when you say there were no roots on the celery plants ... are you thinking of the vegetable called "celery root" and that's why you were disappointed? It's related to the "stalk" type of celery, but isn't the same plant. I've grown it a couple of times and the roots didn't get as large as the ones I've seen in the grocery store, but they really are tasty to chop up for soups and such.
Rick, I would think chard would grow year-around for you, or nearly so anyway (it might take a break and then come back up, and would probably bolt at that point since it's a biennial). I like the "Bright Lights" chard just because it's so ornamental in the garden... I should probably try some of the other varieties that are supposed to have better flavor
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I'm also planning to try growing tatsoi next year... and I'm going to be waging war on the cabbage worms with some screened enclosures!
