Dandelion leaves, or “greens” are nutritionally potent with just as much iron as spinach, and four times as much vitamin A. One cup of dandelion greens also contains 535% of the recommended allowance of vitamin K and is a good source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, and potassium! It is not a weed, rather a superfood when you open your mind to it!
I haven't planted my Italian Dandelion yet but plan to do so this Spring.
I can provide an updated review on my experience with Chickory Greens verses Italian Dandelion greens here in North Texas near Dallas.
While the heat is always a challenge in the summer months. here in North Texas, I have been able to trim green leaves from both Italian Dandelion and Chickory all summer. Both were planted in raised beds. Chickory was planted in full sun with a heavy 5 or 6 inches of shredded cardboard mulch. Chickory is hairy so the cardboard mulch also provided protection from getting dirty. No bug issues with either. Italian Dandelion had more shade just because of the shape of the backyard. No mulch around Italian Dandelion. They have smooth stems and are easy to clean.
I like bitter greens. They seem to be very healthy with a number of health benefits. Chickory leaves are bigger than Italian Dandelion. Italian Dandelion leaves are large, but narrow with long smooth stems. Chickory has deep roots which helps in the Texas heat.
Rabbits like both plants. However I have seen no bug issues with either Chickory or Italian Dandelion. I like bitter greens and these two are my favorite garden plants along with onions, garlic, and garlic chives. It looks like with the brutal heat of North Texas, these two greens allow consumption year round.except in the winter months when I can switch over to Spinach. Spinach does well here in the colder winter months while bugs are not an issue. I think I have found the best options for fresh greens in North Texas all year long.
Fantastic, a huge favorite, tastes great!
I wasn't sure if they would grow here in central Florida zone 9b/10, but they germinated and grew just fine. I planted them at the end of October when the temperatures dropped to around 75 daytime temperature. It is the end of December and still growing.
Not sure if I sowed these at the wrong time, in the wrong place, the seeds are not good for my area (8b), or they were a bit old. Either way, they have been very slow to germinate in my Community Garden plot. After more than a month in the ground, I now notice tiny, tiny, tiny little green shoots. Could this be them, LOL? I'll be patient and have covered them for the cooler weather along with my other greens and brassicas. Will update this as thing develop, or not.
My only complaint is that I was not prepared for how well and fast all of the seeds would grow soI had to pot up earlier than expected! I am very happy with all of the seeds I have purchased from here!
I think I got near perfect germination on these. Cauliflower has always been challenging for me to time it out and know when to harvest. I've been learning that crops that have purple or reds in them (looking at my red lettuce varieties and purple sprouting broccoli) seem to bolt less quickly than their green counterparts in heat.
I have been buying seeds from you for the last 3 years. They germinate very well, and have produced the best gardens I have ever had. I just got my order for this year started in my greenhouse. For the first time I opened a packet of All Seasons Cabbage and there were no seeds in it. the rest of the order is doing great. The price of the seeds also good.
Respectfully,
Terry A. Brannan
This is my first year growing straw flower. The germination rate is fantastic and you get so many seeds. Can't wait till they can moved outdoors and bloom in my purple flower bed.
Everything but the royal paste sprouted. Sometimes that happens. Will place another order for fall planting.