Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by arc2v 7a (My Page) on

Fri, May 2, 14 at 10:09

Hello,
I have some sorrel in an old bed that keeps coming back. We pull leaves when we want it and it tastes fine to me. This is actually year 3 for these.

I keep reading to pull leafy greens after they bolt, as they get bitter. But what if you leave them in the ground for the next round of growing like fall or the next spring? Do they stay bitter?

Sorrel is tough to judge because it is already very tart. But now I've got spinach and lettuce and want to plan accordingly.

Thanks,
Anthony

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RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by theforgottenone1013 5b/6a MI (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 10:27

Sorrel is a perennial. Completely different than lettuce and spinach which are annuals. Once lettuce and spinach bolt, they get bitter and die after they produce seeds (if you let them). That's just their nature. They won't come back unless you let them self seed (self sow?).

Rodney

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by arc2v 7a (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 10:31

Ah, I didn't realize that. So when those bolt pull 'em.

Good to know about the sorrel. I'll just leave them as a border plant.

What about Chard and Kale? Do those keep coming back or bolt and die?

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by woohooman San Diego CA 10a (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 10:46

Same thing with kale and chard. Once bolted, they're done. But, I've yet to see a kale plant bolt and both are good for a year or 2 as long as you keep the root zones somewhat cool. Mulching heavily really helps.

Kevin

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by arc2v 7a (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 11:51

Good info.

Thanks guys.

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by Slimy_Okra 2b (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 12:02

Chard and kale are biennial. So technically, they will overwinter for one winter.
You could always seed seeds of cold-hardy greens (any, including spinach) in early fall for a spring harvest.

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by floral_uk 8/9 (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 12:23

In some climates chard and kale will persist another year or so if you cut off the flowering stems but they become rangy and scruffy. Both self sow in climates with mildish winters.

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by galinas 5B (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 14:54

Do not harvest sorrel leaves that grow in the very hot summer months - they collects to much of oxalic acid in hot weather and it is not good for your kidney. I usually pick leaves till June, then let them grow and bolt. In August I cut all the leaves to the ground, fertilize, and let it grow again. Now it can be picked till frost.

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by howelbama 7 NJ (My Page) on
Fri, May 2, 14 at 15:09

Also, be careful with sorrel, it tends to reproduce with reckless abandon. I believe it is in the mint family...

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by floral_uk 8/9 (My Page) on
Sat, May 3, 14 at 7:44

Sorrel is in the Polygonaceae, so not the same family as mint (Lamiaceae.)

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by defrost49 5 (My Page) on
Sat, May 3, 14 at 10:57

gallinis, thanks for the tip. Every year I wonder if it's ok to use the new leaves that grow late in the season.

RE: Leafy greens as perrennial

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Posted by pnbrown z6.5 MA (My Page) on
Sat, May 3, 14 at 18:06

"Same thing with kale and chard. Once bolted, they're done. "

Not so, for sure, IME. I have had chard plants go 3-4 years in well-protected locations. Kale plants are well known to produce for longer than that in greenhouses or very mild climates, though I have not had one go for more than about 3 years.

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