Illiana Vegetable Growers SymposiumMarch 4, 2014Teibel’s Restaurant, Schererville, IN

Liz MaynardExtension Specialist, Dept. of Hort. and LA

Leafy Greens

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Why Grow Them?

Interest in local food creates year-round demandProduct can be available for early Spring, late Fall,

Winter, as well as SummerSuitable for season extension structuresCurrent Indiana production less than 1% of Indiana

consumption

Spinach, Jan. 12, 2014

NYT Front Page 9‐22‐2013NYT Mag 10‐20‐2013

PT 10‐16‐2013

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2161672,00.html

1‐13‐2014

Wha

t Are

Leaf

y Gr

eens

?Plant Family EPA CCropGoosefoot 2 Beet, greensMustard 2 Turnip greensBuckwheat 4A DockCarrot 4A ChervilCarrot 4A ParsleyGoosefoot 4A OrachGoosefoot 4A SpinachIce plant 4A New Zealand sp.Madeira-vine 4A Malabar sp.Mustard 4A Cress, gardenMustard 4A Cress, uplandMustard 4A ArugulaPigweed 4A AmaranthPurslane 4A Purslane, garden

Sunflower 4A Chrysanthemum,Sunflower 4A DandelionSunflower 4A RadicchioSunflower 4A EndiveSunflower 4A LettuceValerian 4A Corn saladBuckwheat 4B RhubarbCarrot 4B CeleryGoosefoot 4B Chard

leaves of root crops

Non-brassica leafy greens

Non-brassica leaf petioles

Plant Family EPA CropMustard 5A BroccoliMustard 5A Br. sproutsMustard 5A CabbageMustard 5A CauliflowerMustard 5A Napa cabbageMustard 5A Ch. mustard (gai choy)

Mustard 5A KohlrabiMustard 5B Bok choyMustard 5B MizunaMustard 5B Broccoli raabMustard 5B CollardsMustard 5B KaleMustard 5B Mustard greensMustard 5B Mustard spinach

Wha

t Are

Leaf

y Gr

eens

?

Brassica head and stem

Brassica leafy greens

Hardy, Half-hardy, and Warm Season Crops

Source: D. N. Maynard and G.J. Hochmuth, Knott's Handbook for Vegetable Growers, 5th Ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, 2007.

BeetChardOrach. . .

Warm Season Options

Amaranth

Orach

New Zealand Spinach Photos: Rodale Institute, www.newfarm.org; C. Wang www.seriouseats.com; F. Mangan,  http://www.worldcrops.org/

Temperature and Daylength Effects

Crop Long Days

High Temp.

Low Temp.

Broccoli, Cauliflower -Q FMany Mustard Family Plants (F)

Lettuce FSpinach F

F

F, -Q

Flowering Bolting Bulbing Quality

Major Nutrients

Plant Family Crop N P2O5 K2O pH Micro Response

---------lb./A-------- High Med.

Carrot Celery 200 60 348 6.8 B Cu, Mn

Carrot Parsley 100 11 77 6.5 Mn B, Cu, Zn

Goosefoot Beet 100 29 101 6.5 B, Cu Mn, Zn

Goosefoot Chard 100 7 55 6.5 B, Cu, Mn, Zn

Goosefoot Spinach 170 16 72 6.5 B, Cu, Zn Mn

Sunflower Endive 100 18 113 6.5 Cu, Mn B, Zn

Sunflower Lettuce 100-140 40 180 6.5 Cu, Mn B, Zn

Source: Warncke, D., J. Dahl, B. Zandstra. 2004. Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crops in Michigan. E2934. Michigan State University, E. Lansing.

P2O5 and K2O are maintenance amounts based on crop removal.

Major Nutrients

Source: Warncke, D., J. Dahl, B. Zandstra. 2004. Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crops in Michigan. E2934. Michigan State University, E. Lansing.

P2O5 and K2O are maintenance amounts based on crop removal.

Plant Family Crop N P2O5 K2O pH

High Med.---------lb./A--------

Micro Response

Mustard Br. sprouts 140 16 47 6.5 B, Cu, Mn

Mustard Broccoli 140 4 44 6.5 B Cu, Mn

Mustard Cabbage 140 32 136 6.5 B Cu, Mn

Mustard Cauliflower 140 21 53 6.8 B Cu, Mn

Mustard Collards 100 12 36 6.5 Cu, Mn B, Zn

Mustard Kale 100 12 36 6.5 Cu, Mn B, Zn

Mustard Mustard 100 12 36 6.5 Cu, Mn B, Zn

Mustard Radish 50 3 22 6.5 Mn B, Cu, Zn

Mustard Rutabaga 100 47 146 6.5 B Cu, Mn, Zn

Mustard Turnip 90 18 69 6.5 B Cu, Mn, Zn

Major Nutrients

Source: Warncke, D., J. Dahl, B. Zandstra. 2004. Nutrient Recommendations for Vegetable Crops in Michigan. E2934. Michigan State University, E. Lansing.

NitrogenTake into account N from prior crop and organic materials

PhosphorusUse maintenance levels when soil P is more than 35-40 ppmNo more needed if soil P is more than 80 ppm

PotassiumUse maintenance levels when

soil K more than 85 ppm on soils with CEC=4soil K more than 115 ppm on soils with CEC=16

No more needed ifsoil K more than 135 ppm on soils with CEC=4soil K more than 165 ppm on soil with CEC=16

Plant Population

Plant Family Crop

Bet. Row In-row

Ft InBuckwheat Rhubarb 5-6 36Carrot Celery 1.5-3.3 6-12Carrot Parsley 1.25 4-8Goosefoot Beet 1.5-2 2-4Goosefoot Chard 2-3 12-15Goosefoot Spinach 1-1.5 2-3Mustard Broccoli 3 12-18Mustard Br. sprouts 3 18-24Mustard Cabbage 2-3 12-15Mustard Cauliflower 3 15-18Mustard Ch. cabbage 1.5-3 10-18Mustard Collards 3-3.5 18-24Mustard Kale 2-4 8-16Mustard Kohlrabi 1-3 3-6Mustard Mustard 1-1.5 10-12Mustard Turnip, greens 0.5-1 1-4Sunflower Chicory 1.5-2 4-10Sunflower Endive 1.5-2 8-12Sunflower Lettuce 1-1.5 10-16

Source: ID-56 2014 and Knott's Handbook

Much denser plantings are common if plants are harvested when small, either individually or by shearing.

Weed Management

MechanicalCultivationHoe and hand-weedingIt’s a system: row or bed

spacing, plant spacing, equipment, people

Stale seedbedFlamingMulchesDense plantingHerbicidesSee the ID-56 at

mwveguide.org

Insect Management

AphidsCaterpillarsImported cabbagewormDiamondback mothCabbage looper

Flea BeetlesLeafhoppers (transmit

aster yellows)Leaf minersTarnished plant bug(Slugs)

Disease Management

Black rot (brassicas)Bottom rotDamping offDowny mildew spinach,

lettuce)Leaf spots

SanitationRotationResistant varietiesEnvironmental managementDiagnosis is important

Harvest

Harvest

Harvest

PostharvestRemove field heat!Wash if neededDryStore cold and damp32°F for cool season

crops90-95% RH

Keep cold during transport and marketing

Searching for the Highest Quality Green~Lanes End FarmGrowers: Liz and Corey Aquino

Not just a business, but a philosophy.

Not just good enough for customers, but our children, family, and friends.

3 Points• Safe Product• Long-lasting

Product• Healthy

Product

Safe Product

Healthy Soil and Environment Safe Greens

Long-Lasting Product

• Timing• Water Source

Immediately• Vented Bags• Keep cool• Sell different

greens, differently

Healthy Product• Sanitization • Vented Bags

Not just for greens!

Keep Searching

Keep experimenting,

Keep improving

Thank you!

Varieties

Beet‐ std Beet‐other

Asian Brassicas‐std

Asian Brassicas‐other

Broccoli‐std

Broccoli‐other

Cylindra Early Blood Soloist San Fen Arcadia Fiesta

Bull's Blood BoroBaby PacChoy Fen Jen Belstar* Imperial

Chiogga* Bulls Blood MeiQing Mizuna DiCiccoDetroit Dark Red* Chioggia

Shanghai Green Napa Green Belt

Early Wonder Eagle Tatsoi Prize ChoyGreen Magic

MerlinEarly Wonder Gypsy*

Pronto*Gold varieties Pak Man

Red Ace* GoldenSolo Tall TopTall Top Forono

Varieties reported by survey respondents as ‘standard’ or ‘other varieties you would like to see in trial’

Varieties Varieties reported by survey respondents as ‘standard’ or ‘other varieties you would like to see in trial’

Cabbage - std

Cabbage - other Carrot-std

Carrot-other

Cauliflower-std

Collards-std

Collards-other

Blue Dynasty Alantis Ablodo Dragon Absolute Champion VatesBlue Vantage* Bravo Chantenay Laguna Amazing

Cheers Capture Danvers Mokum* Bishop

Copenhagen Charmant Hercules Cheddar

Deadon Early

Littlefingers-early Edith

GonzalesEarly Thunder Nantes Fremont*

Kaitlin Late Dutch Napoli* Orange

Red Dynasty Reds NelsonPurple Graffiti

StoneheadSnow Crown

Super Star

Thunderhead

Varieties Varieties reported by survey respondents as ‘standard’ or ‘other varieties you would like to see in trial’

Kale-stdKale-other

Kohlrabi-std

Lettuce-std

Lettuce-other

Mustard-std

Mustard-other

Blue ArmorRed Russian* Kohlabri Bergams Cardinale Green Wave Baby cuts

Dwarf Siberian Winterbor Kossack* Cherokee Dancine Broadleaf

Lacinato Winner Concept Green Ice Florula Rhubarb Red

Green Forest Pablo Salad Types

Toscano Guzmaine Tropicana

SouthernGiant Curled

Tuscan types Leaf Types

NancyParis IslandCos

Skyphos

Varieties Varieties reported by survey respondents as ‘standard’ or ‘other varieties you would like to see in trial’

Turnip greens-std

Parsnip-std

Radish - std

Radish - other

Spinach - std

Spinach - other

Rutabaga - std

Turnip - std

? Family Seed Andover

French Breakfast Rudolf Menorca America Laurentian

Asian Varieties

Purple Tops Javelin Champion Daikons Bloomsdale* Giant Nobel Hakurei

Cherriette DonkeyLarge Upright Hakurei*

German Giant Pigeon

SummerTolerant Purple Top*

Sparkler Raccoon* Tyee Shogoin

White Icicle Space

Teton

Tyee*

Screening of Lettuce Varieties

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

Funded by Indiana Dept. of Agriculture/USDA  Specialty Crop Block Grant 

Organic production practices13-0-0 at 1,884 lb./A to

supply estimated 132 lb./A NHand-seeded May 16Rows 2 ft., thinned in-row to

6 in.Drip irrigationFirst harvest July 1, thinned

to 12 in.Final harvest July 9-10

38 Lettuce Varieties in Unreplicated TrialPinney Purdue Ag Center, Wanatah, Indiana 2013

Varieties EvaluatedVariety Source Type

Adriana JS ButterheadAerostar HMS RomaineBambi JS BibbBergam's Green HMS LeafButtercrunch JS BibbCoastal Star HMS RomaineConcept JS Summer CrispDeer Tongue JS BibbFenberg JS RomaineFreckles HMS RomaineGreen Forest JS RomaineGreen Star HMS LeafGreen Towers HMS RomaineJericho HMS RomaineLettony HMS LeafMirlo HMS ButterheadNancy JS ButterheadNevada HMS Summer CrispPanisse JS Leaf

Variety Source Type

Parris Island HMS RomainePirat HMS ButterheadSalvius JS RomaineSF Green Incised JS LeafSF Green Sweet Crisp JS LeafSF Red Incised JS LeafSF Red Sweet Crisp JS LeafSP Green Butter JS ButterheadSP Green Oakleaf JS LeafSP Red Butter JS ButterheadSP Red Oakleaf JS LeafSpretnak HMS RomaineSylvesta HMS ButterheadTango JS LeafTin Tin HMS RomaineTropicana JS LeafTwo star HMS LeafWaldmann's HMS LeafWinter Density HMS Romaine

Other characteristics:Freeze resistance

(winter)Nutritional value

(red vs. green)

Lettuce Characteristics Of Interest: Survey Results

Very

Impo

rtan

t

Impo

rtan

t

Not 

Impo

rtan

t

Eating Quality 14 1 1

Slow Bolting 12 3 1

Disease Resistance 10 5 1

Yield 8 6 6

Number and weight of heads, marketable and total

Average weight of heads, before and after trimming

Head length and widthEating qualityBoltingNotes on disease and appearance

Characteristics Evaluated

Promising Varieties: Bibb

Promising Varieties: Butterhead