Practical
Plants

Valerianella locusta

Corn Salad

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

Young leaves - raw[1][5][10][11][2][7][8][9]. A very mild flavour, with a delicate quality that makes them seem to melt in the mouth, they can be added in quantity to salads[4]. The leaves can be available all year round from successional sowings and will only require protection in the colder winters[K]. Flowers and flowering stems - raw[4].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.
Habitat
Cultivated ground, waste places, hedgebanks, dunes etc, usually on dry soils[13][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
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 late summer in situ. A late summer sowing might also succeed, and this would supply edible leaves in the winter.

Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, it prefers a fairly rich light soil[1][9] though it tolerates most soils and wet or dry conditions[12]. 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[6]. Late sowings will benefit from a sheltered sunny position and perhaps some protection in the winter. Often cultivated on a garden scale for its edible young leaves which, by successional sowing, can be available for most of the year although they will require protection in severe winters. There are several named varieties[4]. The plants do tend to run quickly to seed in the summer though. If allowed to flower, plants will often maintain themselves by self-sowing[K].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  7. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

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  8. Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  11. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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

    ↩

  13. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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