Practical
Plants

Valerianella eriocarpa

Italian Corn Salad

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.4 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - raw or cooked[4][6][7]. The leaves have a very mild flavour and a slightly mucilaginous texture, they make an excellent ingredient of mixed salads and can be eaten in quantity[K]. The leaves can be available all year round from successional sowings, and will only need protection in colder winters[K]. When grown in rich soils larger leaves are produced that can be used as a potherb[3].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
C. and S. Europe. Naturalized in Britain[2].
Habitat
Old walls and banks in Britain[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - in order to obtain a continuous supply of salad leaves, it is best to sow the seed successionally from early spring to mid summer in situ. A late summer sowing can also succeed, and this would supply edible leaves in the winter.

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it prefers a fairly rich light soil[1]. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade in summer[K]. This shade, plus an adequate supply of water, will slow down the plant's tendency to run to seed[5]. Late sowings will benefit from a sheltered sunny position and perhaps some protection in the winter. Occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties[3]. It is less hardy than common corn salad (Valerianella locusta), but does not run to seed so quickly in hot weather[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  6. Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00

    ↩

  7. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

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