Our Home Grown Salad Leaves are Saving us Money.

Salad Leaves.

Salads leaves that you cut and which grow again a couple of times are really worth while. The little bit of time and effort it takes to sprinkle the seeds over the surface of a flower pot full of compost is just five minutes or so. In return you can pick leaves that would cost £'s if bought bagged,ready picked, ready washed salad leaves.

  You can stand the flower pot with the salad leaves growing in it, near the kitchen door. That way you have a handy source of salad leaves ready to prepare for a quick meal or a snack.

If youu wish you can sow and grow these leaves in raised bead, containers or directly into prepared soil. Prepare as a seed bed and sow as per instructions on seed packets.

There are lots of different types of cut and grow again salad leaf seeds for sale. Which ones you decide  to grow depends on you and your salad eating preference. There are some leaves that are spicy and peppery but most are a pretty mix of leaf shapes and colours. My favourite types come in a mix of red and green salad leaf colours.

If you are not sure of the type of seed to use for this here is a page selling packets of leaves of this type:

'All Seasons salad leaf seed' a mix that can be grown outdoors in summer and on the windowsill in winter time.

A fast growing salad mix called 'Speedy Mix' which can be ready in 25 days if the weather is right. 

A salad mix called 'Bright and Spicy'. 

The above are links to a UK site that sells seeds and plants.

Pick the leaves gently as and when you want them and they should re-grow two or three times. 

Let the kids have a go at growing their own salad all it takes is a few seeds sprinkled over the surface of a container filled with seed compost.

Gently cover over as per packet directions and the children will love watching the seeds grow.  Use one of the milder tasting salad leaf seed mixes for this as they will enjoy eating the lettuce better than some of the spicy tasting ones like rocket.

Easy way to grow salad leaves...

Salad leaves are quick and easy to grow in containers outside or indoors on a kitchen window sill - with sufficient light.

All you need is a suitable container, a packet of seeds for
'cut and grow again'' lettuce seeds, and a pack of suitable compost.

You can grow your salad leaves in flower pots, or even use the plastic containers that fruit is supplied in. Fill the container/pot  with compost and sprinkle the seeds over the surface, cover to the depth suggested on the seed packet with more compost. Keep watering when needed.

When the leaves are a good size cut them to harvest them, being careful not to damage the roots by tugging at them. If harvested correctly the leaves will regrow once or twice to provide another salad leaf harvest. If you want a useful constant supply do not forget to plant another container of salad leaves every two weeks or so. This is a nice easy healthy way of adding fresh salad leaves to your diet/lunch box. You can cut just enough for a sandwich or salad and there is no waste. When the leaves have ceased to re-grow do not throw the compost into the rubbish bin. The compost will be good for your garden or compost heap. Enjoy growing,harvesting and eating your own grown salad leaves this summer.

If you wish to read more about growing your own salad here is a HubPage I have written about it -

HubPages: Grow Your Own Salad.