Leafy Greens. Leafy Greens 4/22/2013. Level 2 MGV Training, Leafy Greens: Lettuce (family: Asteraceae)

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Leafy Greens Leafy Greens Level 2 MGV Training, 2013 By Sharon Morrisey Consumer Horticulture Agent Milwaukee County UW Extension Head lettuce Leaf lettuce

varieties available Heat causes Bitterness Flowerstalk formation called bolting Types: Loose leaf Cos or romaine Butterhead Crisphead Green leaf Blk.

1 Leafy Greens Leafy Greens Level 2 MGV Training, 2013 By Sharon Morrisey Consumer Horticulture Agent Milwaukee County UW Extension Head lettuce Leaf lettuce Spinach Swiss chard Mesclun Many others Lettuce (family: Asteraceae) degrees Spring & fall Tolerates light frosts Grows quickly (50 60 days) Hundreds of varieties available Heat causes Bitterness Flowerstalk formation called bolting Types: Loose leaf Cos or romaine Butterhead Crisphead Green leaf Blk. Seeded Simpson Simpson Elite (bolt resistant) Deer tongue (heirloom) Oak leaf (slow to bolt) Salad Bowl Red leaf Lollo Rosso (bolt resist.) Red Sails (very heat tolerant) Red Salad Bowl 1

2 Boston Cos or Romaine Parris Island Baby cos Little Gem Butterhead Buttercrunch (heat resist.) AAS Winner Tom Thumb Tom Thumb Buttercrunch Crisphead (Iceberg types) Ithaca Montello Summertime heat tolerant Cultivation Direct seed or transplant Leaf lettuce Direct seeding is fine Thin to 12 between plants to harvest individual leaves or whole plants Do not thin for cut and come again harvesting Head lettuce Start indoors 4 weeks early Plant apart Cut head at base Iceberg 1894; new class Harvesting Leaf lettuce harvest individual leaves whole plants cut or pull ( dirty ) cut and come again Head lettuce Cut head at base Keep cool after harvest Store in refrigerator Cool and humid Don t wash Ventilated plastic bags Keeps a couple weeks 2

Spinach (family: Chenopodiaceae) Grow in spring or fall In a cold frame February Broadcast seed over flat Direct sow very early spring Till/work soil in fall Sow over frozen ground in March Sow as

3 Spinach (family: Chenopodiaceae) Grow in spring or fall In a cold frame February Broadcast seed over flat Direct sow very early spring Till/work soil in fall Sow over frozen ground in March Sow as soon as soil can be worked Heat causes bolting and bitterness Late summer August Sow for fall crop Late fall Sow in late October Mulch to overwinter Growth begins in early spring as soon as soil warms enough Cultivation Direct seed or transplant Thin to 1 2 apart to harvest entire plant Sow weekly to prolong harvest Or thin to 4 6 and harvest oldest leaves as plants grow Varieties: Crinkled (savoyed) Bloomsdale Longstanding (AAS Winner) Melody (AAS Winner) Tyee Big Ruffles Smooth Correnta Bloomsdale Longstanding Alternatives: New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia expansa) Heat tolerant; frost sensitive Harvest all summer (?) Tastes different Sow 12 apart and harvest leaves as they mature Climbing spinach (Malabar spinach, Ceylon spinach, Summer spinach) (Basella alba) Thick, crunchy but creamy textured leaves all summer Sow 12 apart and harvest leaves as they mature High in soluble fiber; can thicken soups and stews 3

Red vine climbing spinach Basella alba Red Stem Or Basella rubra Gets bitter when fruiting Keep well watered to prevent fruiting Reseeds heavily Swiss Chard Swiss (family: Chard Chenopodiaceae)

4 Red vine climbing spinach Basella alba Red Stem Or Basella rubra Gets bitter when fruiting Keep well watered to prevent fruiting Reseeds heavily Swiss Chard Swiss (family: Chard Chenopodiaceae) (family:) Thick leaf stalks with large leaf blade Stalks and mid ribs: white, red, pink, yellow chop like celery, steam Leaves: green, bronze, purple cook like spinach Varieties: Bright Lights Ruby Red Fordhook Giant Cultivation Sow directly as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring Tolerates light frosts and cold temperatures Grows all season spring, summer, fall, early winter (with protection) Harvest outer leaves all season Break off at base Just as good large or small Store cool & humid (not wet) Mesclun Definition: mixed leafy greens Packaged mixtures Mix your own Sow in blocks and harvest by cut and come again. Sow successive plantings if time allows. 4

Summer mixtures Japanese Mixed Greens Mustards, tatsoi, amaranth Mix your own Beets, mustards, chard, turnips, slowto bolt lettuce Arugula=rocket=roquette Cole crop Distinctly lobed leaves Fast

flowery texture and flavor Cress Upland and Garden easier than watercress Cole crop Endive and Escarole Aster family Types of chicory Radicchio Aster family Type of chicory Miscellaneous Others Asian

5 Summer mixtures Japanese Mixed Greens Mustards, tatsoi, amaranth Mix your own Beets, mustards, chard, turnips, slowto bolt lettuce Arugula=rocket=roquette Cole crop Distinctly lobed leaves Fast growing Sow blocks ; cut and come again Pungent; spicy; nutty; peppery Mache=Corn salad Extremely cold tolerant; sow very early or in late fall Rosettes of velvety, dark green leaves Delicate, flowery texture and flavor Cress Upland and Garden easier than watercress Cole crop Endive and Escarole Aster family Types of chicory Radicchio Aster family Type of chicory Miscellaneous Others Asian greens Many are actually in the mustard family Mizuna Tatsoi Tong ho, Shungiku (Chrysanthemum coronarium) The flavor is complex, aromatic, and intensely bitter. Chinese Cabbage Pak choi (bok choy) Pe tsai Oriental Greens (B. rapa subsp. nipposinica) Leafy greens or flower buds mizuna Cole Crops: Chinese Cabbage (family: Brassicaceae) 5

6 Forms: Pak Choi (= Bak Choy) (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) nonheading, loose, upright like Swiss chard More likely to bolt Pe tsai (B. rapa subsp. pekinensis) heading type like Cos lettuce Michihili type tall, cylindrical, upright Napa type shorter, broader Cultivation Spring seedings don t work Gets hot too soon Start seedlings in individual pots 4 5 weeks before transplanting Transplant 2 3 weeks before ff while still young Will vernalize/ bolt if freeze or a week of 50 degree nights Sow directly for fall crops Or start indoors in mid July to transplant in late August Pests: Flea beetles Slugs 6

Rebecca McMahon Horticulture Agent Sedgwick County Extension. What is a Salad? What salad greens do you use in salads?

Rebecca McMahon Horticulture Agent Sedgwick County Extension What is a Salad? What salad greens do you use in salads? 1 Salad Components Base Often Greens Secondary Flavors Highlight Flavors Toppings Garnish