Baby Leaf Spinach

[Binky]

Is there a particular variety of spinch to grow if I want baby leaves - the sort that look nice in salads? Or should I just grow anything and try to pick them small and young?

Thanks

[alan refail]

Hi Binky

I rarely grow spinach - there are so many things I prefer as small leaves for salads.

However, I think the answer to both parts of your question would be yes.

BORDEAUX is claimed as specially bred for baby leaves.

Any variety can be sown and harvested small.

Bordeaux is more attractive for good-looking salads, but said to bolt even more readily than other varieties.

[Binky]

Thank you Alan. I have a range of lettuces - what other interesting leaves do you (or anyone) put in salads?

[Geoff]

Rocket and Greek Cress. We have added Mustard Red Frills this year that is great.

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Binky. If you like peppery, land cress is good and will seed itself if you let it. I'm trying unwins parcel this year for a parsley/ celery like flavour, useful for soups, sauces, and salads.

[alan refail]

Hi Binky

You asked, so here goes! These are most of what I grow for “little leaves”, at the appropriate time/s of the year. I have put my sowing dates.

Claytonia sow late August – early September
Corn Salad sow late August – early September
Cress sow sow April & May & June
Salad Rocket sow April & June & July
Wild Rocket sow May & August
Mixed Endive and Scarole sow May or June
Mixed Lettuce sow May and July http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/45
Mixed Chicory sow May or June http://www.seedsofitaly.com/product/118
Red Orache sow April
Mustard Green in the Snow sow early September
Mustard Golden Streaks sow June
Mustard Ruby Streaks sow June
Mizuna sow early September
Mibuna sow early September
Cime di Rapa (turnip tops/Broccoli Raab) sow April
Peas to eat as pea shoots sow February and August viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6338
Broad Beans to eat as bean shoots sow October/November or February

If you want to specialise in baby salads look out for Charles Dowding’s excellent book: Salad Leaves for All Seasons or go to his website at http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/

[John]

Hello Binky
I grew spinach 'Renegade F1' - sown last year and overwintered in a frame. It's excellent. The young leaves are great for salad and the more mature leaves are a fine cooked veg. without that metallic taste that spinach sometimes has. It is very slow to bolt from early sowing so it says on the packet and is resistant to mildew.
Another good leaf to try is beetroot 'Bulls Blood'. The young red leaves are very tender and if left to mature it will give you a beetroot.

John

[Binky]

Thank you everybody - especially Alan for the enormous list and the book reference.

[alan refail]

Morning Binky

If you want to get an idea of what Charles Dowding's book covers, have a look inside at Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/19003 ... eader-page

[Monika]

Misticanza from Seeds of Italy (available in RHS shops) is a good mixture of salad leaves, both green and red. It grows well in growbags in a cold greenhouse and then outside.

[Colin_M]

...look out for Charles Dowding’s excellent book..

Nice one Alan, I can also recommend this one too

Charles Dowding also runs really interesting courses, if you can get to his place: Courses for 2010
I was lucky enough to be bought a day's visit as a birthday present from my wife . He definitely "walks the talk".