Salad Plants

Read about Salad Plants in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Salad Plants are those with soft and edible leaves or stems, or both, that may be used raw or in the preparation of uncooked dishes. The principal salad plant in America is lettuce, which is used exclusively, but not always expertly, for salads. For full directions for growing lettuce in the garden and under glass, see Lettuce and Forcing. Next to lettuce the best-known salad plant in this country is probably endive, which is excellent, especially when well-blanched plants are to be had in the winter. Chicory is much like endive, as regards its treatment either in the garden or in the salad-dish. Like endive, it is frequently seen in the larger city markets. The common dandelion should be mentioned in this category. When forced and blanched it makes a salad fit for the most cultivated epicure. For ordinary home cultivation and use, however, the common garden cress (Lepidium sativum, not water-cress, nor upland cress) ranks next to lettuce in value. Its rapid growth and high flavor equally recommend it. This plant is said to be a great favorite in English gardens and forcing-houses, where it is grown in mixture with white mustard and is pulled very young and eaten roots and all. Corn salad is another plant sometimes grown in gardens and used for salad-making. It is most acceptable to those who do not relish the pungency of mustard and cress. Chives is used by many persons as an ingredient of lettuce and other salads; also young onions. Many other plants are used in various places and by various persons for salads. Besides the salad plants proper, many vegetables are used in a cooked or raw condition for salads. Such are cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, potatoes, lima beans, beets, Jerusalem artichoke, and the like. With salad plants may also be included pot-herbs, or "greens." The plants especially to be mentioned in this category are swiss chard, beet-tops, spinach, kale, endive, witloof and mustard. Many other plants find occasional or local favor. See Greens. The only general cultural directions which can be given for salad plants are that blanching is often desirable and a quick unchecked growth is always a requisite. An abundance of rapidly available fertilizer and plenty of water are therefore to be insisted on. A warm light soil, in the best mechanical condition, is necessary for the same reasons. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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