Why I like Oriental Saladini

Oriental saladini ... I have to admit to buying this particular packet of seeds largely because of the way the words roll pleasingly off the tongue. (Why saladini rather than salad? Answers below please!)

Thankfully, the leaves are a success in a horticultural sense, too. It's a pretty even mix of red mustard (my favourite), mibuna, pak choi, komatsuna and mizuna. I've cut and come again a few times but am expecting to visit the plot after a bit of an absence to find that things have headed up.

Having said that, it's been a bit frosty of late and this crop is unprotected in a raised bed so I am not sure what state it'll be in.

I've still not bought, let alone planted, any autumn garlic yet, and I wonder if I am way too late ... although if I can get my hands on some bulbs I'll probably throw caution to the winds and plant a few.

Comments

[Natalie El-Barrawi]

I grew saladini mixtures in a unprotected raised bed last year and they stood pretty well.The red mustard seemed to get hotter as the cold descended and this almost negated the need for salad dressing. They got slightly tough though and I started to use them in stir-fry dishes.
I recommend Claytonia(miner's lettuce?) It's low hugging and has small succulent arrow-shaped leaves that taste slightly of apple/melon.It's very refreshing and seemingly frost-proof,slug-proof and not at all available in the shop's at any time of year.
I think Joy Larkham put the saladini mix together in the 70's. Maybe it's one of those pushed together words mini&salad or else it's salad init!

[Emma]

It's definitely not too late to plant autumn garlic. The month I most often hear mentioned is November, but I'm sure Monty said Christmas on Gardeners World on Friday.

[Jane Perrone]

Thanks Emma, that's good to know. I was being really lazy as I could easily have looked the answer up - in my own book!

I've tried Claytonia Natalie ... common name Winter Purslane I think. As you say, it's incredibly tough, but I wasn't a big fan of the flavour, more's the pity!

[John Curtin]

Jane, plenty of time to get garlic in the ground before say the end of November!