Plantain Deer Horn - Minutina

Plantago coronopus is a culinary herb that falls somewhere between salad and aromatic herb. It is used in Mesclun, to which it adds a salty note. Sow the seeds from March to September and harvest all year round.

Buck's-horn plantain is a biennial plant. It is native to Europe and belongs to the Plantaginaceae family.

It grows naturally in dry and compact soils, where it faces little competition. It has a spreading rosette habit, composed of deeply divided narrow leaves that are topped by arched flower spikes.

In the garden, this herb is cultivated for its tender young leaves, which can be consumed raw in salads or cooked like spinach. It can also be used to treat minor wounds such as insect bites, as it has emollient and astringent properties.

Harvest: the young leaves can be harvested all year round, as needed.

Storage: the leaves should be consumed immediately after harvest.

Gardener's tip: like lamb's lettuce, it should be sown in undisturbed soil. While the rosette naturally spreads out close to the ground, it may have a slightly more upright habit when cultivated.