15 Leafy Greens Varieties You Need To Know
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Elidia
Elidia is a compact Genovese-type basil. It features a more compact habit and is slower to bolt than Aroma 2, with excellent leaf shape and color. It has intermediate resistance to Fusarium. Elidia is bred for container production, but has performed well in our field trials. Classic aroma and flavor. Organic seed. Available from Johnny's Selected Seeds.
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Li Ren Choi
Unlike most green-stemmed pac chois, heads of Li Ren Choi are proportional and filled out at the true baby size. Said to be the best baby pac choi, Li Ren Choi is for mini-head production only, as heads will not become large. Available from Johnny's Selected Seeds.
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Cleopatra
Cleopatra is the third of the organic herbs introduced at this time. Pretty silver-gray foliage makes this another herb that will be appreciated for its ornamental value. Unique from Greek and Italian oreganos, Cleopatra has a “pepperminty” and mildly spicy flavor. This compact, trailing plant produces a high yield of leaves. Available from Seeds By Design.
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Persian
The first of three organic herbs introduced as All-America Selections Winners, Persian basil is a large, vigorous plant that is a prolific producer. Not only is the taste excellent, but the green foliage, sturdy branches, and large leaves make for a great ornamental plant. Available from Seeds By Design.
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Sandy
2015 National All-America Selections Winning Sandy has exceptional disease and bolt resistance. It can be sown
in either spring or fall seasons and is a lovely, dark-green oakleaf lettuce with a multitude of extra frilly leaves. Sandy also holds in the field for extended harvest. Available from Seeds By Design. -
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Responder
Responder is a semi-savoy spinach that does very well in cool to cold weather and can be used for baby leaf and full-sized bunched or bagged. It is resistant to downy mildew races 1-11. Available from Seedway.
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Amara
While technically a mustard, Amara is known by several different names including Ethiopian kale, highland kale, Abyssinian mustard, and Texsel greens. The dark-green leaves are tender, slightly savoyed with a wavy margin, and have an excellent rich flavor. Available from Shamrock Seeds and Johnny's Selected Seeds.
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Capulin
Capulin is an easy leaf lettuce with resistance to downy mildew races 1-27. It is best suited for production in the Midwest and Northeast. It is a robust, non-heading Batavia type and is very slow to bolt. Available from Enza Zaden and Rupp Seeds.
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CN KAL 1029
CN KAL 1029 matures in 52 days. It is best suited for production in the Midwest and the Northeast. CN KAL 1029 is similar to Winterbor kale. It is available from CN Seeds and Stokes Seeds.
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El Prado
This baby spinach has high resistance to downy mildew caused by the specified races of Peronospora farinose f. sp spinaciae races 1-16. A fast-maturing variety, it has high yield potential and is best suited for production in Coastal California and the Desert Southwest. It features light- to medium-green, oval-pointed leaves and is ideal for the organic market. Available from Syngenta.
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Flash
This hybrid collard has high bolt resistance and matures in 75 days. It is best suited for production on the East Coast. Plant height reaches 18 to 26 inches and leaves are dark green. Flash is good for stripping, bunching and processing. Available from Sakata Seed America and Clifton Seed.
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Requena
This Little Gem type has high resistance to Bremia races 16-30, 32; Fusarium wilt race 1; Nasonovia; and intermediate resistance to lettuce mosaic virus. It matures in 60 days. Regions best suited for production include the Southwest, West, East Coast U.S.; Spain and the Netherlands. It is very slow bolting and strong against tipburn. Available from Rijk Zwaan.
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Scarlet
Scarlet is a curled kale that matures 90 days from transplant (benching). This beautiful red kale, can be produced in virtually any region of the U.S. Available from Seeds By Design and Santa Maria Seeds.
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SV3176LG
This crisphead Romaine cross is best suited for production in California's Huron and Salinas Valley. SV3176LG is a variety within the Seminis Frescada lettuce portfolio, and it offers the sweet taste and crispiness of iceberg and the darker color of Romaine. It delivers consistent sweet flavor and crisp cupped leaves adaptable to both wide- bed and short-bed use. Available from Seminis.
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Tiger
Tiger is a collard that matures in 69 days. It has an upright Georgia plant habit with slightly-savoyed, blue-green leaves. It’s for the fresh market, but will work well for processing. Tiger has a high ratio of blade to stalk. It has very fast regrowth and high bolt resistance. Available from Sakata Seed America.
View all
Elidia
Li Ren Choi
Cleopatra
Persian
Sandy
Responder
Amara
Capulin
CN KAL 1029
El Prado
Flash
Requena
Scarlet
SV3176LG
Tiger
Browse this slideshow for more information on 15 leafy greens varieties from the nation’s leading seed breeders and distributors.
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Rosemary Gordon is editor of American Vegetable Grower, a Meister Media Worldwide publication. See all author stories here.