gtarman Posted October 4, 2015 I thought it would be cool to share experiences with types of leafy greens that bugs don't seem to touch. I'm trying to find more plants that I don't have to constantly defend from caterpillars and grasshoppers etc. My favourite kale is the black Tuscan variety, but that seems to be the bugs' favourite too. I used to grow Red Russian kale and nothing seemed to touch that. It was pretty tough textured and bitter though so I didn't like it much either. So far my list of leafy greens that have done well against bugs are: Red Russian kale Malabar/Ceylon Spinach - but this is quite mucilaginous which is probably why bugs don't like it Rocket - just have to find a variety that doesn't go to seed easily in subtropical summers Nasturtium - although I tend not to use the leaves as much, they're mucilaginous and a little hotter than some people like I'm about to start experimenting with Ipomea aquatica/water spinach, and Aibika/hibiscus spinach and some others. Anyone have any additions/suggestions? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anodyne Posted October 4, 2015 Gtarman, try wild rocket Diplotaxis tenuifolia - the seeds are pretty easy to find, or I can send you some if you want. Rarely gets eaten by bugs either, doesn't bolt in hot weather, and can be grown perenially. I like it because the leaves stay tender even when the plant is flowering or underwatered - they don't go stringy & bitter like normal rocket. If you're interested in ipomoeas - sweet potato leaves are edible too and will grow like a weed to cover ground, fences, walls etc (just like a morning glory vine, complete with pretty flowers). They need some cooking as they're a little sappy raw, but they're an acceptable spinach substitute, like malabar-spinach. Bonus is that you get to dig up a bunch of sweet potatoes when the vine dies back in winter. Not really a leafy green, but nothing ever touches my tulsi (I think because they have a squad of guardian preying mantises) - so now I grow that instead of basil. It's drier & oilier than sweet basil, so it's perfect for drying & makes a great pesto. Nothing much seems to touch the sorrel either - I guess because of the oxalic acid content? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtarman Posted October 4, 2015 Ah yeah wild rocket was the one I meant sorry Anodyne, I just refer to it as rocket usually seeing as I never grow the tame kind. Sweet potato can be good but most varieties need to be cooked, I'm looking more for stuff you can just munch raw. Thanks for the tip on Sorrel though, I've eaten that before but didn't know bugs weren't into it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-RC- Posted October 4, 2015 Dandelion and gotu kola Super nutritious too! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtarman Posted October 4, 2015 Sweet. Just planted a bunch of dandelion seeds yesterday 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shortly Posted October 9, 2015 Portulacaria afra Water cress Several Piper spp Warrigal greens Sauropus androgynus sweet leaf 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfamiller Posted November 21, 2015 Warrigal greens do great for me also ipomea aquatica(morning glory/chinese spinich) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nothinghead Posted November 22, 2015 nettles are great dried, as pesto, or in soup. fresh or dried clover chickweed viola spp. toughness of kale can be reduced by bruising it (roll it between your hands or something) before cooking. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted November 22, 2015 Chicories Mustard greens (tho you'd want to limit its consumption raw) Spring radish and storage radish greens are rarely bothered for me, but the one variety of storage radish I have doesnt taste all that great raw and eating raw spring radish greens feels like french kissing a cat. Maca greens but I've never actually eaten the greens myself, either. I just know theyre edible. Young squash leaves, tho I always cook them. Rutabaga greens dont get too troubled here, I eat them raw in cooler weather My turnip greens dont get bothered at all, but they taste like a dead mules arse in the heat of summer I've yet to see anything eat my lettuces but I dont grow them a whole lot. Some varieties, like Oak Leaf and Jericho, can handle more heat than others. Its encouraging to see sweet potato listed, I've toyed with the idea of growing it but my little 260 square meter garden never seems big enough for everything, lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IndianDreaming Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) Brahmi - don't see many bugs on my brahmi plants. Edit: pretty small leafy greens though Noticed a definite decrease in bugs all round by only watering in the morning - watering at night = bugs delight! Edited November 23, 2015 by IndianDreaming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spooge Posted November 24, 2015 Sorrel is a good one, here it is a perrenial and self seeds, is kinda drought resistant as well. Tastes bitter on its own though, in a salad it replaces lettuce just fine and with a bit of dressing the bitterness vanishes. Bugs will eat it, however it is very prolific and out grows any attempts of bugs eating the plants. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
