Green Leafy Vegetables

Spring Mix—An Emerging Crop for Florida

Santiago Rosaro, Alan L. Wright, David D. Sui, Nikol Havranek, and Yigang Luo

Leafy Greens in Hydroponics and Protected Culture for Florida

Natalie B. Parkell, Robert C. Hochmuth, and Wanda L. Laughlin

Pepper Spot ("Gomasho") on Napa Cabbage

Eric Simonne, Jeff Brecht, Guodong Liu, and Monica Ozores-Hampton

Fertilization of Sweet Corn, Celery, Romaine, Escarole, Endive, and Radish on Organic Soils in Florida

George J. Hochmuth, Edward Hanlon, George Snyder, Russell Nagata, Tom Schueneman, German V. Sandoya Miranda, Jehangir Bhadha, and Niguss S. Hailegnaw

Celery, sweet corn, endive, escarole, romaine lettuce, and radish are important crops on organic soils in Florida. This bulletin summarizes fertilization research results with these crops from the 1940s to the present. New interpretations of these compiled works were used to produce updated UF/IFAS Extension recommendations for fertilization of these six vegetable crops.

Chapter 9. Leafy Vegetable Production

Germán Sandoya-Miranda, Ramdas Kanissery, Nicholas S. Dufault, Johan Desaeger, Anna Meszaros, Julien Beuzelin, Katia Viana Xavier, and Dennis C. Odero

Chapter 9 of the Vegetable Production Handbook of Florida

Purslane: The Reigning Champion of Vitamins A and E among Vegetables and a Potential Crop for Home Gardens

Xueyan Zhang, Mary Dixon, and Guodong Liu

Purslane is often labeled as a noxious weed in Florida; however, this seemingly pesky plant is perceived as a nutritional powerhouse in Asia and other continents. Levels of vitamin A and E in purslane far surpass those found in broccoli, tomato, and lettuce. A mere 3.5 ounces of purslane can fulfill 81% of an individual's daily vitamin requirements, and up to half a pound can meet the daily needs for both Vitamins A and E. Sustaining this nutritional wealth hinges on the timing of harvest when purslane plants attain a height of 5 to 6 inches. Beyond this stage, purslane becomes excessively fibrous and aged, making it unsuitable for consumption and necessitating removal through weeding. This publication article provides a comprehensive overview of purslane, delving into its botany, garden production, harvest practices, and both culinary and medicinal uses to assist growers and consumers in understanding when to savor its nutritional benefits and when to weed it from farmlands.

Escarole and Endive: Nutritious Leafy Vegetables with High Potential for Floridians

Germán Sandoya, Makou Lin, Jeongim Kim, and Steven Sargent

Escaroles and endives are two leafy vegetables of the Compositae family rich in nutrients and minerals. Both crops are uncommon in the United States, but both are planted in wintertime in Florida and in other states such as California and New Jersey. This publication aims the public and inform of their use in the leafy vegetable industry in Florida. As other leafy vegetables, escaroles and endives are susceptible to pests and diseases and other physiological disorders such as pink rib at postharvest. Using the correct management practices and the correct cultivars adapted for Florida could help producers in fields and in the home garden to achieve a successful crop.

Waterleaf, a Potential Leafy Vegetable for Florida

Christianah T. Oladoye and Guodong Liu

Waterleaf is a vegetable crop whose edible leaves are soft, succulent, and highly nutritious. It is available in some local grocery stores in Florida but is new to most people in Florida and its environs. Waterleaf production is economically attractive due to low cost for seeds, pesticides, and herbicides for producing the crop. Like other leafy vegetables, waterleaf can be grown in home gardens as well. This new 6-page article will give an overview of this emerging vegetable in Florida. The intended audience is county Extension faculty, students, growers, and consumers. Written by Christianah T. Oladoye and Guodong Liu and published by the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department.

Healthy Harvest: Florida Brassicas, Cruciferous Vegetables, and Leafy Greens

Catherine Campbell, Julia Graddy, Jeanette Andrade, and Wendy Wilber

This publication from the Healthy Harvest series is intended for individuals who are interested in knowing more about brassica crops, cruciferous vegetables, and leafy greens that are grown in Florida, and ways to store, prepare, and cook these crops in healthy meals. Written by Catherine Campbell, Julia Graddy, Jeanette Andrade, and Wendy Wilber, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, June 2025.