Dandelion greens
Taraxacum officinale
Also known asCommon dandelion · French dandelion · Pissenlit · Lion's tooth
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–10 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- very hardy (survives deep cold)
- Season
- cool (spring/fall)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| vegetative | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
An extremely easy hydroponic green that's almost impossible to fail with. EC 1.0-2.0 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 10–22°C (cool-season crop for best flavor; heat increases bitterness). Low to moderate light (DLI 10-16 mol/m2/day; like chicory, dandelion tolerates partial shade). NFT, DWC, or media bed systems all work. From seed to baby leaf harvest: 4-5 weeks. Full-sized leaves: 7-9 weeks. The cultivated varieties are significantly less bitter and larger-leaved than lawn dandelions. Blanching (covering the plant to exclude light for 7-10 days before harvest) reduces bitterness dramatically and produces pale, tender leaves that are milder and more marketable. Harvest outer leaves for cut-and-come-again production. The plants are perennial and regrow vigorously after cutting. For commercial hydroponic growers, cultivated dandelion greens fill a specialty niche at farmers' markets and restaurants. The French salade preparation (blanched greens with warm bacon vinaigrette and a poached egg) is a classic that sells well at farm-to-table restaurants.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amélioré à Coeur Plein | open pollinated | 85 | French market-garden cultivar, the standard pissenlit you'll find in seed catalogs. Larger, fuller rosettes than the wild type and the leaves self-blanch as the rosette tightens. Less bitter than the lawn dandelion. |
| Vert de Montmagny | open pollinated | 90 | Québécois heirloom, the most cold-hardy cultivated dandelion. Survives zone 3 winters under snow and starts producing the moment the ground thaws. Slightly more bitter than Amélioré but better suited to cold-climate gardens. |
| Thick-leaved | open pollinated | 75 | Common UK trade name for a thick-leaved selection from Chiltern Seeds and similar. Vigorous, quick-growing, broader leaves than the French types. Less ornamentally pretty but more productive per square foot. |