How to Grow Greens

A bowlful of freshly harvested spring salad greens is a highlight to any meal. Here are six tips to help you successfully grow them.

Locate your garden in a sunny spot, such as the south side of the house, to ensure it receives the warmest rays. A minimum of six hours of sunlight per day is optimum.

Enrich the soil. Each fall, spread a layer of compost and seasoned turkey or poultry manure over the beds. Consider planting seeds of annual ryegrass to hold the soil through winter.

Wait until the soil is thawed and crumbly before you spade or till it in spring. Then, turn under the winter ryegrass, shaking out and removing all the weeds, then rake the beds smooth.

Sow seeds of cool-season salad crops in early spring. Timing varies depending on what region you live in. Usually you can sow peas, salad greens, and lettuce directly in the garden beginning in mid-April.

Learn which veggies are cold-tolerant.
Learn how to build a cold-frame.

Create simple patterns. First, sketch a rough plan before starting to help determine how many seeds or plants you will need. Seeds sown in diagonal rows or wide arcs fill in gaps.

Plant edible flowers to set off your greens. Many of the savory blooms, such as Johnny jump-ups and nasturtiums, are versatile and add vibrancy when tossed into a bowl of greens.

Learn more about edible landscaping.
Get ideas for growing greens in containers.