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Reichardia picroides
Reichardia picroides flower with a bee
Reichardia picroides flowering
Reichardia picroides seed head
reichardia picroides seeds
Reichardia picroides profusely flowering

Reichardia picroides perennial salad leaf pack of 20 seeds

£4.99

SOW BETWEEN EARLY SPRING AND EARLY AUTUMN
A sweet and crunchy perennial salad leaf known as Caccialepre in Italy but not widely known here in the UK. Great slug proof properties and a mass of yellow flowers in summer.

37 in stock

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Description

Reichardia picroides also known as French Scorzonera or Common Brighteyes is a sweet and crunchy perennial salad leaf and a wonderful substitute for lettuce. It seems to have great slug proof properties as well! In Italy it is known as Caccialepre and is collected as a wild green and grows in abundance there. In terms of hardiness we are still testing this one as we haven’t overwintered plants as yet, but reports say it can tolerate -5c to -10c. You can grow it undercover all year round, but if growing outside we would recommend you cover plants with fleece over the winter months. Plants will self sow and are in flower between April and September and are fantastic for pollinators. This is an exciting addition to our perennial vegetable catalogue as plants and seeds very hard to find in the UK. We have established a permanent bed of plants so lots of seed for many years to come.

How to grow

Sow Reichardia picroides from early spring to early autumn. Sow seeds shallowly in pots or trays of compost, prick out seedlings and then pot up into individual pots before transplanting out. Plants can be grown undercover all year round, or if planting outside, give plants protection over winter. You could also grow these in containers and bring them inside over winter depending on your location.

Harvesting and propagating

Leaves can be harvested any time, even when plants are flowering, but there are less leaves to pick when plants are in flower. The bright yellow flowers are fantastic for bees and other pollinators and carry on until September. Plants will self sow around the base or you can collect seeds and sow them in a different place. In autumn, cut back any old stems to encourage more leaf growth.

Cooking and eating

Use as a lettuce substitute, leaves are sweet and crunchy and make a wonderful addition to salads

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“Thanks for everything, the info sheet was great. I planted the cuttings the day they arrived and have just multi sown the 9 star in seed trays. All very exciting, we’re now planning our perennial area.”

“You are right, perennial kale is fantastic! Thanks so much for the cuttings. I am a convert to having a corner of perpetual kale in the patch!”

“As the evening sun back lit the plants at Incredible Vegetables, I felt I was standing in one of the most important gardens of our time. Wildflowers working alongside an abundance of edimentals and perennial vegetables. A ‘food glade’ to rival the aesthetic of our greatest plant designers.”

– Jon Davies, garden designer, London Glades –

“I love your website and the work you’re doing. What you’re doing is exiting, useful, and one day will help to replace and enhance what human kind has damaged.With that our natural friends will return and we’ll be better for it.”

“Mandy, thank you. I am delighted with this plant – it is so strong and healthy and exceptionally well packaged – all done with loving care obviously. I shall look forward to having more plants from you.”

“Plants all arrived lovely and are growing well. I just wanted to say i was very impressed with the quality of the cuttings.. and its been a pleasure dealing with you. And I look forward to any purchases in the future.”

“The kale cuttings you sent survived the winter and are thriving. Thank you Mandy Barber you are the super hero of edibles, loving your work!!”

“I bought some Skirret seed’s off you last year. Well they grew and yesterday some got cooked and this message is just to say, they were delicious. Looking forward to a lot more next year. Thank you.”

“The Taunton Dean cuttings arrived a short while ago and never have I seen healthier looking cuttings! They are now firmly ensconced in some nice compost and are having a good drink. I even loved the packaging, which will be composted.”

“Hi I just wanted to let you know that I sowed half of my Caucasian spinach seeds and every single one grew, absolutely amazed, thanks for the seeds and keep up the good work.”

“Just to let you know that the lovely healthy looking plants arrived. Your plants are simply outstanding, every single tuber and plant are growing amazingly.”

“The plants arrived safely, I did not expect such magnificent specimens! I didn’t think I would be successful at stratification etc but I now have a whole bunch of Hablitzia seedlings sprouting after following your excellent advice.”

“Just to say, the Daubentons Kale is in the ground and looking well – thanks to the lovely damp compost encasing its roots…you do a good job at your end, I can tell by the way you package. Will be back for more of your wonderful perennials.”

“Thank you so much for all the vegetables, they really are incredible. I’m sure I’ve never before seen a healthier rootball than the one that arrived with our happy looking daubentons kale, and seeds and tubers are thriving thanks to all the useful information provided.”

“Thank you so much for sending such wonderful, healthy and very large plants. They are beautiful !! You packaged them so well and they arrived so quickly – I couldn’t get to the post office till the following day but they were absolutely fine. They’re now potted up and sitting in my ‘cold’ greenhouse while they adjust.”

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We look forward to hearing from you,

Mandy and Julien