View source for Pot-Herbs

Greens, Edible, or Pot-Herbs{{SCH}}. This term greens is generally applied in America to any pot-herb, that is to say, to any green herbage which is cooked and served separately from the other principal and secondary dishes of a square meal{{SCH}}. The term "greens" is commonly used for the mess of cookery which is brought to the table{{SCH}}. It is not so often applied to the plants growing in the garden{{SCH}}. In the garden, perhaps, they are herbs—pot-herbs—although this term is not so much employed as it conveniently might be{{SCH}}. Greens are served early in the spring, when the appetite craves anything which tastes like out-of-doors{{SCH}}.

All sorts of plants are used as pot-herbs{{SCH}}. Almost anything which shows a succulent growth in the spring is likely to be tried by somebody{{SCH}}. Turnip tops, potato leaves, pig-weeds, purslane, and many other apparently impossible herbs, are often impressed into the service{{SCH}}. The really good pot-herbs are comparatively few, however{{SCH}}. Probably the best are dandelion, spinach, mustard (various species), endive, chard, beet-top and kale{{SCH}}.

The following plants have been more or less used as pot-herbs{{SCH}}:

*Buck's-horn Plantain, [[Plantago coronopus]].
*California Peppergrass, [[Brassica japonica]].
*Cardoon, [[Cynara cardunculus]].
*Chard, [[Beta fulgaris]].
*Chervil, [[Anthriscus cerefolium]].
*Chicory, [[Cichorium intybus]].
*Chinese Amaranth, [[Amarantus gangeticus]].
*Chinese Artichoke, [[Stachys sieboldii]] ([[Stachys affinis]] or [[Stachys tuberifera]]).
*Chinese Cabbage, [[Brassica pe-teai]].
*Chinese Cabbage, [[Brassica chinensis]].
*Chinese Mustard, [[Brassica juncea]].
*Chives, [[Allium schoenoprasum]].
*Corn Salad, [[Valerianella olitoria]].
*Cress, [[Lepidium saliva]].
*Meadow Cress, [[Cardamine pratensis]].
*Para Cress, [[Spilanthes olerocta]].
*Upland Cress, [[Barbarta vulgaris]] and [[Barbarta praecox]].
*Other so-called Cresses, as [[Lepidium chilense]], [[Lepidium piscidium]], [[Lepidium virginicum]], [[Senebiera pinnatifida]], [[Nasturtium indicum]], [[Gynandropsis pentaphylla]]. 
*Dandelion, [[Taraxicum officinale]]. 
*Dock, [[Rumex]], several species. 
*Endive, [[Cichorium endivia]]. 
*Globe Artichoke, [[Cynara scolymus]]. 
*Good King Henry, [[Chenopodium bonus-henricus]]. 
*Goosefoot, [[Chenopodium]], mostly [[Chenopodium album|C. album]]. 
*Ice Plant, [[Mesembryanthemum crystallinum]]. 
*Italian Corn Salad, [[Valerianella eriocarpa]]. 
*Kale, [[Brassica olfracea]]. 
*Lettuce, [[Lactuca]] (especially the wild species, some of which are excellent).
*Malabar Nightshade, [[Basella alba]] and [[Basella rubra]].
*Mustard, [[Brassica]] species.
*Nasturtiums, [[Tropaeolum]] species.
*Orach, [[Atriplex hortensis]].
*Parsley, [[Petroselinum]].
*Pepper-grass. [[Lepidium]] species.
*Pigweed, [[Amarantus]] species.
*Pokeweed, [[Phytolacca decandra]].
*Quinoa, [[Chenopodium quinoa]].
*Rocket Salad, [[Eruca sativa]].
*Rosella, [[Hibiacui sabdariffa]].
*Salad-Burnet, [[Porterium sanguisorba]].
*Sorrels, various, [[Oxalis crenata]], [[Oxalis tetraphylla]].
*Spinach, [[Spiriacia oleracea]].
*Tuberous-Rooted Chinese Mustard, [[Brassica napiformis]].
*Turnip, [[Brassica rapa]].
*Winter Purslane, [[Montia perfoliata]].

==Cultivation==
Culture.—Pot-herbs are wanted at the earliest possible moment in the spring{{SCH}}. They are, therefore, often grown in hotbeds, frames, or in greenhouses (see Spinach, Dandelion, Mustard, etc.){{SCH}}. They must be succulent and tender{{SCH}}. It is necessary, on this account, that they be quickly grown in loose, very rich, well- drained soil with plenty of water{{SCH}}. Specific directions for the cultivation of the various plants will be found under the several heads. {{SCH}}

==Gallery==
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==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
*{{wplink}}

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