So a fun fact about me is that two of my favorite things in the world is gardening and themes.
Why is that relevant? Because today we are chatting about the perfect combination of those – a salad garden! Salad gardens are a delicious themed section (or your whole garden that’s up to you of course) of your garden dedicated to growing salad ingredients. But we will chat more about that later!
We also are going to talk about HOW to grow a salad garden, what to grow in a salad garden, and my favorite tips for making sure yours is edible and fun to grow 🙂 so let’s get into it because this is gonna be a fun one-
Salad Gardens-
What is a salad garden?
A salad garden is essentially a small garden plot or container garden dedicated to growing your favorite salad ingredients. It typically includes a variety of lettuces, spinach, arugula, and other greens, but who’s to say you can’t throw in some radishes, cucumbers, and herbs to spice things up? The idea is to have a diverse mix of flavors and textures for your salad bowl, all accessible right outside your door (or on your window sill!).
What would you grow in a salad garden?
So of course this is personal- what do YOU like in your salads? I’m going to share some ideas and inspo but the most important thing is to grow things you like to eat and skip over those you don’t. There is absolutely no need to grow things you or your family won’t enjoy!
But anyway let’s chat about some easy and fun things to grow in a salad garden:
- Greens: Romaine, spinach, kale, Boston lettuce, arugula, chard, bon choy… whatever you like to add to your salads! Personally though I will say that romaine and kale are two of the easiest greens in my experience.
- Herbs: Dill, oregano, chives and parsley personally are the herbs I would recommend for a salad garden. If you are feeling super ambitious you can even grow herbs to add to homemade salad dressing.
- Veggies: carrots, radishes, tomatoes (we’re not gonna call them a fruit in this context okay), cucumbers, green onions, bell peppers… really this list could go on and on because most veggies would be tasty in a salad. Meaning you get to pick the veggies that you prefer to eat!
Alright now let’s get into the actual and practical steps for growing your salad garden.
How do I grow a salad garden??
Choose Your Location: Most salad greens prefer cooler temperatures and some shade, but they still need about 4-6 hours of sunlight daily. Find a spot that meets these conditions, whether it’s a corner of your yard or a sunny balcony. Most of the things you will grow in a salad garden can thrive in either in-ground gardening or container gardening which is awesome and means you can really select the place with the best light rather than being limited!
Pick Your Plants: So guys we already chatted about some options and hopefully by the time you head to get seeds or seedlings you have made up your mind. If not… do it immediately! Decide on the greens and veggies you love in your salads. For beginners, you can’t go wrong with varieties of lettuce, spinach, and arugula. These plants grow quickly, giving you that instant gratification!!
Prepare the Soil: Work the soil until it’s loose and friable. Salad greens thrive in well-draining soil rich in organic matter, so mix in plenty of compost.
Sowing Seeds: You can start seeds indoors or sow them directly into the soil. Plant seeds about a quarter-inch deep and keep the soil moist until germination. Personally I have found that by sowing seeds in advance indoors you have more success. But it isn’t always worth the effort and that’s okay too 🙂
Spacing is Key: Give each plant enough room to grow. This helps in reducing competition for nutrients and decreases the risk of disease spread among your plants.
Tips for salad gardens:
- Water Wisely: Salad greens need consistent moisture. Water regularly, especially in warmer weather, to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Use the one knuckle trick for a salad garden- stick your middle finger into the soil and if it feels dry when your first knuckle is fully in the soil then that means your plants are thirsty!
- Harvesting Hints: Harvest in the morning when the leaves are crisp and full of moisture. For lettuces, consider the “cut and come again” method by harvesting outer leaves and allowing the center leaves to continue growing. Also- never EVER harvest with dirty shears. They will spread disease and can harm your whole garden! Clean and sharp shears only.
- Succession Planting: To keep your salad bowl perpetually full, practice succession planting. Sow new seeds every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh greens. Make sure to research your garden zone if you don’t know it already because there are specific guidelines for succession planting in different regions that can be so helpful!
- Pest Patrol: Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids and slugs. Use organic pest control methods, like neem oil or diatomaceous earth, to keep your salad garden healthy and chemical-free.
- Mix it Up: Don’t be afraid to experiment with adding different types of greens or edible flowers like nasturtiums or calendula. They not only add color and variety but can also help in attracting beneficial insects.
And that my friends is how to grow a salad garden 🙂 I am so excited for you to start this journey. Imagine a few months down the road and it’s lunch time and you get to go pick the freshest ingredients for your salad??? A literal dream!
Talk Plant To Me
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