Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
Nutritious Green High in Vitamin A and C- More Calcium and Iron than Spinach
Although dandelions have been cultivated for centuries, rarely has anyone made selections for ease of harvest, larger leaf or lack of bitterness. But a few cultures are into dandelions and the French, Italian and German breeders know a good dandelion when they see one. To many, the dandelion is just a weed. (That single plant that help create a multimillion dollar lawn herbicide business.) To others, the flowers are a source for wine making. Some people make a wish while blowing the seeds skyward. We offer three selections all of which are slight 'improvements' to make the dandelion easier to cultivate for production of greens. Leaves can be cut throughout the season but are best young and mixed at a 1 to 10 ratio with regular salad greens. Plants are multi-seeded in a pot and can be further propagated by root cuttings or seeds. Feel free to make wishes. I wish I had more dandelions in my lawn of life. Hardy to
-30 F.
Thick Leaf Improved - This French strain is really the best yielding selection making it easy to harvest the upright growing leaves up to 12 inches long. Very vigorous selection.
Paper pots $2.75 each
Nouvelle- French type with very good leaf quality. Dark green broad leaves. More compact and less bitter than other types.
Paper pots $2.75 each
Vollherizgen - German selection made for less bitterness. Nice rosette of dark green leaves. Very good salad selection. For less bitterness try growing you dandelions in light shade.
Paper pots $2.75 each
.
Nine Star Perennial Broccoli Brassica oleracea botrytis aparagoides
Perennial Form of Brassica-Overwinters- Produces for 2-3 years
This form of broccoli is a selection of brassica that is known for its delicious leaves and immature florets. Although the flower buds look like cauliflower this selection has a very mild flavor compared to kale and is not overly fibrous. Here in Michigan, Nine Star died to the ground this last winter only to resprout this spring. Plants in our un-heated polyhouses suffered no winter damage and did not die to the ground. Can be produced direct from seed so try to leave a few flower buds for future propagation. Some plants reached 5 feet tall in one year. Very nice selection. Hardy to 0 F plus or minus. Mulch the lower stem in colder climates. Space 3 ft. apart.
Paper pots 1 year plants $3.75 each
Sea Kale Crambe maritima
Perennial Kale Hardy to -25F
Edible Flowerbuds, Leaves and Shoots -Plants Live up to 10 years
This perennial wild brassica is found along the coasts in northern Europe. As a garden plant it is a clump forming perennial capable of producing edible flower buds like broccoli and young shoots like kale. Plants will continue to produce for 10 years but older leaves are too tough to eat. Like dandelions, this plant was used to a great extent in Europe as a blanched leaf crop. Dense spikes of bright yellow flowers are produced which are relished by honeybees. Best in full sun. Easy to grow in sand or rich organic soil. Height and width to 3 ft.
Paper pots $6.75 each
Giant Tree Spinach Chenopodium giganteum
Highly Nutritious Salad Plant
Annual Greens-Salad Plant High in Calcium and Vitamin A
This form of lambsquarter is one of the most delicious and palatable forms of lambsquarter ever grown. You can begin harvest when the plants are only 1 ft. tall and continue throughout the summer season. The leaves are very soft and juicy to eat and are not fibrous even at the end of the summer season. The mineral rich leaves can also be cooked like spinach and mixed with other salad greens. In our new plant garden plants grew up from 4 to 7 ft. tall with a distinct pyramidal shape. Surface sow seeds. Germination with take place within 7-10 days. Begin harvest in 60 days. Seeds can be saved for future propagation just by shaking the seed heads in a paper bag.
Packet of 500 seeds $3.75 each