BBCH-scale (leafy vegetables not forming heads)

The BBCH-scale (leafy vegetables not forming heads) identifies the phenological development stages of leafy vegetables not forming heads (spinach = Spinacia oleracea, loosehead lettuce = Lactuca sativa var. crispa, kale = Brassica oleracea var. sabellica). It is a plant species specific version of the BBCH-scale.

Phenological growth stages and BBCH-identification keys of leaf vegetables not forming heads
Code	Description
Principal growth stage 0: Germination
00	Dry seed
01	Beginning of seed imbibition
03	Seed imbibition complete
05	Radicle emerged from seed
07	Hypocotyl with cotyledons breaking through seed coat
09	Emergence: cotyledons break through soil surface
Principal growth stage 1: Leaf development (Main shoot)
10	Cotyledons completely unfolded; growing point or true leaf initial visible
11	First true leaf unfolded
12	2nd true leaf unfolded
13	3rd true leaf unfolded
1 .	Stages continuous till . . .
19	9 or more true leaves unfolded
Principal growth stage 3: Stem elongation of rosette growth
33	Leaf rosette has reached 30% of the expected diameter typical for the variety.1 Additional recommended knowledge What is the Correct Way to Check Repeatability in Balances? How to quickly check pipettes? Weighing the right way Main shoot has reached 30% of the expected height typical for the variety²
35	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 variety²
37	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 variety²
39	Rosette development completed1 Main shoot has reached the height typical for the variety²
Principal growth stage 4: Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts
41	10% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
42	20% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
43	30% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
44	40% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
45	50% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
46	60% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
47	70% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
48	80% of the leaf mass typical for the variety reached
49	Typical leaf mass reached
Principal growth stage 5: Inflorescence emergence
51	Main shoot begins to elongate1 Main inflorescence visible between uppermost leaves²
53	30% of the expected height of the main shoot reached
55	First individual flowers of main inflorescence visible (still closed)
59	First flower petals visible; flowers still closed
Principal growth stage 6: Flowering
60	First flowers open (sporadically)
61	Beginning of flowering: 10% of flowers open
62	20% of flowers open
63	30% of flowers open
64	40% of flowers open
65	Full flowering: 50% of flowers open
67	Flowering finishing: majority of petals fallen or dry
69	End of flowering
Principal growth stage 7: Development of fruit
71	First fruits formed
72	20% of fruits have reached typical size
73	30% of fruits have reached typical size
74	40% of fruits have reached typical size
75	50% of fruits have reached typical size
76	60% of fruits have reached typical size
77	70% of fruits have reached typical size
78	80% of fruits have reached typical size
79	Fruits have reached typical size
Principal growth stage 8: Ripening of fruit and seed
81	Beginning of ripening: 10% of fruits ripe, or 10% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
82	20% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
83	30% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
84	40% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
85	50% of fruits ripe, or 50% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
86	60% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
87	70% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
88	80% of fruits ripe, or 20% of seeds of typical colour, dry and hard
89	Fully ripe: seeds on the whole plant of typical colour and hard
Principal growth stage 9: Senescence
92	Leaves and shoots beginning to discolor
95	50% of leaves yellow or dead
97	Plants dead
99	Harvested product (seeds)

1 For letucce varieties without head, spinach and species with rosette-type growth
2 For kale and species without rosette growth

References

Feller, C.; H. Bleiholder, L. Buhr, H. Hack, M. Hess, R. Klose, U. Meier, R. Stauss, T. van den Boom, E. Weber (1995). "Phänologische Entwicklungsstadien von Gemüsepflanzen: I. Zwiebel-, Wurzel-, Knollen- und Blattgemüse.". Nachrichtenbl. Deut. Pflanzenschutzd. 47: 193-206. ur mom