Salad greens are different varieties of vegetable plants that are highly nutritious and they are leafy plants that can be added to salads to add taste and flavor to your taste buds. Generally, “salad greens” are leafy plants that can be used to make your food much more lovely and each variety of this plant has something peculiar about then; in terms of shape, color, taste, and nutritional benefits.
Most salad greens have green coloration while some other varieties have a light reddish color and they are rich in carotenoid which is usually converted to Vitamin A when consumed while the green-types also have a low content of vitamin A.
Salad greens are one of the most popular plants among gardeners all over the world thanks to their beneficial nutritional benefits and they offer a great taste to foods when consumed raw, cooked, or fried.
Salad greens are rich in so many beneficial nutrients which include vitamins such as B6, C4, B12, E, and K and other minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc. and fibers – you should grow them to enjoy their significant benefits at all times.
There are so many varieties of the salad greens and the different varieties originate from different cultures, traditions, and regions around the world – all offering great taste and nutrition to the diet and you will definitely love them.
Apart from the popular lettuce and cabbage plants mostly considered as leafy salad greens, there are some other lovely plants that belong to these group of plant and some others include baby kale, mesclun, edible spinach, radicchio, Tatsoi, red chard, pea shoots, red and green mustards, watercress, rocket, etc.
Growing salad greens is quite easy to carry out, however, there is a need for you to pay very good attention to certain things that will encourage the development of these plants; generally, these plants are cold-weathered plants and they survive well under these conditions.
If you want to learn how you can conveniently grow your own salad greens then this is the right place for you to be. In this article, we will take you through a step-by-step guide on how you can conveniently grow salad greens and have a bountiful harvest all year round. Read further to learn more.
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When is the right time to grow Salad Greens?
Salad greens are generally cold-loving plants and they thrive well under cool weathers and these plants are known for their ability to grow extensively well when properly grown.
However, before going through the processes involved in growing salad greens, it is important to know the right and appropriate time when planting should be done.
Either you are planning to start your plant outdoor or indoor, the proper condition for growing these plants must be met to ensure the proper germination and productivity of the plants.
The right time to grow salad greens is during Fall or early spring. Below is an explanation of the different planting seasons.
Fall:
Planting can be done during this period since it is usually less sunny compared to the summer season and this will still ensure the germination of the seeds if properly done.
This should be done some weeks before the first winter frost so as to give the plant a chance to get accustomed to the environment and to be able to withstand the winter stress very well.
This can also be the perfect time to start seeds indoors for the purpose of transplanting. If you aim to practice selective planting then planting during this period is very essential.
Early spring:
Planting during this period of the year is very easy to do and planting should be carried out after the last frost has passed.
During this period, it is very easy for the plant to germinate and it will become less possible to be damaged by the cold weather.
Planting during this period will give the plant a better chance of survival in the soil and this will also improve its rate of germination.
How to Grow Salad Greens
Salad greens are cool-weather plants – that’s no news, however, these plants have the ability to germinate when the temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
These plants have the ability to produce edible leaves and even some small plants (thinned plants) can be harvested and consumed.
Note that even though these plants can have certain differences when it comes to spacing and other little requirements; they will generally survive under similar conditions.
These plants are lovely plants that should be consumed well during their growing seasons as they will work beautifully well for you.
In this section, we will take you through the process involved in growing salad greens so you should read further to learn more about them. Below are the steps involved in growing salad greens:
Seed collection:
Since there are different varieties of salad greens, it is important that you decide on the different varieties of these plants that you would love to grow.
After making a list of the different varieties you would love to grow, the nest thing to do is order for seeds and Inna safer side, you can visit a store to purchase your seeds for the certainty of variety. Make sure to choose the seeds of different varieties of this plant that you would love to grow.
If you would love to grow in spring:
If you want to grow in spring, you should choose plant varieties that thrive best in cool soils. Some varieties that will survive during this period include Argula, Arctic king (lettuce), etc. You can ask attendants so as not to make the wrong choice.
If you would love to grow in fall:
Some of these salad greens plants thrive best during the fall and you can go for these varieties. Make sure to choose a variety that will survive well in warm weather to grow in the fall.
NB: some variety of salad greens will thrive under warm and cold weather, you just need to understand your plant variety well.
Site selection:
The site for growing your salad greens should receive about 6 hours of sunlight daily; however, these plants do not do well under too much sunlight so you might want to put in place a covering to help filter the sunlight.
The soil of the site should be very fertile and well-draining. Make sure that the site chosen will be able to ensure the proper germination and development of the plant.
Soil preparation:
The soil should be well prepared and carefully taken care of. You should incorporate organic manure or compost to the soil using a garden fork.
You should check the pH level of the soil, make sure it is neither too acidic nor alkaline – make sure it meets the recommendation for the plant you are growing.
The soil should be tilled to a depth of about 2 – 3 inches so as to allow for the proper movement of the root within the soil.
Partition the growing area:
Since these vegetables are perishable if not for commercial purposes, it is recommended that you partition the growing area so that the plants can be harvested over a wide period of time.
Plant the seeds:
The seedlings can either be planted through broadcasting or mass planting. Place about 4 to 5 seedlings of each variety in holes not more than 1-inch deep.
Planting should be done with an interval of 2 weeks to control the development of the plant and also to control the number of vegetables to be harvested at once.
After showing, the seeds should be covered with soil and patted well. Leave a spacing of 12-inches between each hole (this is recommended for all types of salad greens to ensure proper germination).
Water thoroughly:
Plants need water for their survival so you should provide the right amount of water that will help sustain the plant and also encourage their development.
Water early in the morning daily to ensure the germination of the plant made to improve their ability to germinate. Under warm weather, there might be a need to water during the day as well.
Put in place row cover:
Row cover should be placed above the surface of the growing regions. Row cover will help to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the plant and also help to keep soil moisture intact.
Row cover also helps reduce the exposure to insects such as flea beetles that affect the plant’s leaves. Though they might not be necessary during cold weather, they can be easily removed during this period of the year.
Conclusion
Salad greens are easy plants to grow so if you are a lover of gardening who wants to have these lovely plants as a part of your diet at all times, you should learn to grow them.
By following the steps, even if you are a newbie in gardening you will be able to grow them with so much ease. Happy gardening!
Thank you for taking the time to read this article !
