Plantaginaceae • Plantago coronopu

Buck's-horn plantain - Organic

"A small, delicate, curly salad that sneaks into the quiet corners of the vegetable garden."

$4.49

Number of seeds 40 seeds

Buck's-horn plantain , also known as salad-leaf plantain, is a vegetable variety of plantain long prized in Europe as a tender green. Its narrow, deeply lobed leaves resemble small horns or a curly plume, instantly lending a vibrant, garden-like appearance to the growing beds.

In an organic vegetable garden, it easily finds its place among salads and leafy greens. Its low rosette gently covers the ground and thrives in any type of soil, without any particular requirements, provided it is moderately fertile and well-drained. Harvested young, it offers the gardener the daily pleasure of a few fresh leaves to add to salads, maintaining the natural rhythm of the seasons.

It's a trustworthy little plant: discreet, low-maintenance, and can be sown in several waves to stagger harvests. Its benevolent presence integrates naturally into a diverse, edible garden and a respectful relationship with all living things.

Growing climate: Cool season
Sowing difficulty level: Easy
Care required: Occasional
Growth: Rapid growth

Note: Particularly appreciates the cool temperatures of spring and autumn; tends to bolt (go to seed) more quickly in intense heat or prolonged drought.

Buck's-horn plantain is cultivated as a small leafy vegetable. The young leaves are primarily harvested and added raw to salads to diversify shapes and textures. The slightly more mature leaves can be used mixed with other greens, either raw or lightly cooked, according to preference.

It is harvested in stages, by picking a few leaves from each rosette or by harvesting the small rosettes whole when they are well-formed but still tender. Like other greens, the leaves do not keep for long; they are best used fresh, immediately after harvesting.