Corn Salad, Lewiston cornsalad
Valerianella locusta

Family: Valerianaceae

What it is like

Valerianella locusta is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to June, and the seeds ripen from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 0.3

Where it is found

Cultivated ground, waste places, hedgebanks, dunes etc, usually on dry soils.

Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Young leaves - raw. 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. The leaves can be available all year round from successional sowings and will only require protection in the colder winters. Flowers and flowering stems - raw.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

A very easily grown plant, it prefers a fairly rich light soil though it tolerates most soils and wet or dry conditions. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade in summer. This shade, plus an adequate supply of water, will slow down the plant's tendency to run to seed. 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. 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.

Propagating it: 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.

Best place to grow: Hedgerow; Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

V. olitoria.