Creasy Greens – Basic Information

Q: My grandmother mentioned eating creasy greens in spring. She said they were a favorite mountain tonic. What can you tell me about them?

A: Creasy greens, also called winter cress, are in the mustard family. The botanical name is Barbaraea verna. Mountain folk would look for them in early spring and cook them as you would turnip greens. They have a definite “twangy” taste, plus many good vitamins. The leaves grow in a rosette, similar to dandelion. I have more details plus seed sources at http://www.walterreeves.com/gardening-q-and-a/creasy-greens-identification/.

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