This is a quick-growing green, and very hardy, making it valuable for
early spring and late fall growing. It cannot be raised during summer,
on account of its running immediately to seed without making many
leaves. It can be sown as soon as the ground can be worked in the
spring, and will be ready for use in a few weeks; about three sowings
may be made, two weeks apart, or more, if the season is longer, though
it will hardly be good if planted after the middle of May. The whole
plant is cut off even with the ground, at any time before it starts to
run to seed, the leaves and stems being used as boiled greens. Large
sowings should be made in October, of the hardy variety, as it can be
cut throughout the winter; a later sowing may be made the first of
November, and lightly covered with litter when the ground has been
frozen hard; this covering should be raked off early in the spring, and
it will complete its growth before the first spring planting is ready
for use.