Did you know that you can grow a salad garden in the winter? I didn’t and when today’s guest author told me it was possible I was enchanted. How cool is that?
We all strive to feed our families a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. However, many conventionally grown crops have pesticide and/or fertilizer residue on them. While low doses may be considered safe, why not grow your own and remove that concern from your mind?
Contrary to popular belief you absolutely can grow edible plants through the winter. In mild or maritime like climates many plants do not even need protection while a greenhouse or cold frame may be needed in colder areas. Below is a step-by-step guide to growing an edible winter salad garden.
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Find a 5-10 gallon container; check local garage sales for a good deal. Try to find one that is unique if you want to add a decorative touch to your deck or patio.
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Place 1-2” of gravel, broken clay pots or other material to allow good drainage.
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Fill container with potting soil to within 1” of the rim.
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Broadcast seeds on the surface and cover with about 1/4 inch of leftover potting soil.
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Wet the soil with water, a spray bottle set on mist works great for this.
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Keep soil wet for about 2 weeks while the seeds germinate.
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Since the weather is getting colder now for best results place the container in the garage or laundry room at 60-70 degrees for germination.
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When the plants are about 1 inch high transition the container outside, ideally over 3-4 days increasing the amount of time outside each day.
This is all well and good but planting the wrong type of seeds can result in a total failure. For example, some types of lettuce are not very cold hardy. I suggest planting maché, kale and swiss chard for their diversity of flavor and ability to withstand winter temperatures. There are many varieties of each so be sure to select one that is labeled as cold hardy.
For these plants try harvesting the outer leaves first. In doing this you will prolong the productive life of the plant giving you the most amount of food for the space in use. A great thing about winter gardening is that watering is rarely needed since rainfall is fairly consistent. The result is a very low maintenance salad garden that will provide greens for your family all winter long.
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