Fast growing plant for loads of green leaves during summer

Hey everyone

I live in Biarritz, in the south-west of France, in a temperate climate.

I had no time to plant anything until now, and I would like to eat loads of greens this summer.

Do you have any idea on what I could plant now to harvest dark green leaves in July and August ?

I know it's late, but I am hoping for something clever

Thanks !!

That's a quick turnaround! I think of a few things right off the bat: First and foremost is kale, because it grows reasonably quickly and it's pleasant to eat at any stage, from mini to maxi. Lettuces are another good contender. In North America black-seeded simpson is a standard quick lettuce. You'll probably have different options but lettuce = quick greens. Another thing that comes to mind is turnips because they are -- or  can be, anyway -- resilient, competitive, and quick and the greens are very edible.

I looked up your growzone and general climate, and you need 'warm weather' greens. This is a link giving some detail for plants that will produce edible greens in 90f/32c ...

http://www.gardenbetty.com/2012/06/summer-lovin-salad-greens/

Edible red leaf amaranth ('Chinese spinach')

Perpetual Spinach (in Chard family but tastes more spinach)

Vulcan Chard ('rhubarb' chard)

Komatsuna ('mustard spinach') fastest grower, soonest producer

Malabar Spinach (a climbing vine)

Tokyo Bekana (sort of a Chinese cabbage) mustardy taste

Yukina Savoy- will grow all summer in a 10b climate (aka a never sees frost in winter climate, so will take heat)

Mizuna (Japanese mustard)

Bloody Dock (Bloody Sorrel, red veined Dock)  Likes it wet

Butterhead Speckles lettuce - takes some care and a late spring start

Hey Deb Rebel and chip sanft, thanks a lot for your answers!

I am goning to try and find the seeds for most of what you advised, and start them growing.

I'll keep you posted with a few pics

Super cool people on this forum

stinging nettles ... you can transplant them. and then cut them to the ground to get fresh growth.

for nasturtium there is still enough time. but the leaves have a strong taste

if you can by starts or potted plants: sweet potatoe greens

and then there is the allium family: onions, garlic, chives etc. ... they will have edible greens. much of it will be good in autumn and through the winter.

at end of summer you could grow spinach and lambs lettuce for fall and winter harvest.

and then there s microgreens. barley-grass, pea shoots, wheat-grass and sunflower shoots. you can grow them from grains for food or animal fodder (test if they sprout well)


good luck and blessings

I don't think you have the climate to produce tubers this late in the season, but sweet potato leaves are very edible. The tend to get most productive here when it starts to get hot for the summer.

Starting them is a matter of cutting the base of a sweet potato and then putting it in water until they start producing slips (short sections of vine for planting).