In biology, the BBCH-scale for leafy vegetables not forming heads describes the phenological development of leafy vegetables not forming heads, such as spinach, loosehead lettuce, and kale, using the BBCH-scale.
The phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of leafy vegetables not forming heads are:
Growth stageCodeDescription0: Germination00 Dry seed01 Beginning of seed imbibition03 Seed imbibition complete05 Radicle emerged from seed07 Hypocotyl with cotyledons breaking through seed coat09 Emergence: cotyledons break through soil surface1: Leaf development (Main shoot)10 Cotyledons completely unfolded; growing point or true leaf initial visible11 First true leaf unfolded12 2nd true leaf unfolded13 3rd true leaf unfolded1 . Stages continuous till ...19 9 or more true leaves unfolded3: Stem elongation of rosette growth33 Leaf rosette has reached 30% of the expected diameter typical for the variety.1 Main shoot has reached 30% of the expected height typical for the variety²35 Leaf rosette has reached 50% of the expected diameter typical for the variety.1 Main shoot has reached 50% of the expected height typical for the variety²37 Leaf rosette has reached 70% of the expected diameter typical for the variety.1 Main shoot has reached 70% of the expected height for the variety²39 Rosette development completed1 Main shoot has reached the height typical for the variety²4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts41 10% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached42 20% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached43 30% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached44 40% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached45 50% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached46 60% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached47 70% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached48 80% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached49 Typical leaf mass reached5: Inflorescence emergence51 Main shoot begins to elongate1 Main inflorescence visible between uppermost leaves²53 30% of the expected height of the main shoot reached55 First individual flowers of main inflorescence visible (still closed)59 First flower petals visible; flowers still closed6: Flowering60 First flowers open (sporadically)61 Beginning of flowering: 10% of flowers open62 20% of flowers open63 30% of flowers open64 40% of flowers open65 Full flowering: 50% of flowers open67 Flowering finishing: majority of petals fallen or dry69 End of flowering7: Development of fruit71 First fruits formed72 20% of fruits have reached typical size73 30% of fruits have reached typical size74 40% of fruits have reached typical size75 50% of fruits have reached typical size76 60% of fruits have reached typical size77 70% of fruits have reached typical size78 80% of fruits have reached typical size79 Fruits have reached typical size8: Ripening of fruit and seed81 Beginning of ripening: 10% of fruits ripe, or 10% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard82 20% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard83 30% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard84 40% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard85 50% of fruits ripe, or 50% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard86 60% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard87 70% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard88 80% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard89 Fully ripe: seeds on the whole plant of typical colour and hard9: Senescence92 Leaves and shoots beginning to discolor95 50% of leaves yellow or dead97 Plants dead99 Harvested product (seeds)
1. For lettuce varieties without head, spinach and species with rosette-type growth 2. For kale and species without rosette growth
References
External links A downloadable version of the BBCH Scales