Discover how to grow succulent, crisp salads in pots, planters, or the garden with our expert advice on choosing the best seeds, sowing, and harvesting effortlessly.
The perfect salad seed selection
The crucial choice of seedsTo select your salad seeds, it is important to read the instructions on the back of the packets carefully. Consider taste, growing time and disease resistance. It is best to buy your seeds in small quantities and sow them quickly.
Seed ribbons and mesclun mixesSalads are also available as seed ribbons, which are easy to place in the flower bed or planter. You can also choose seed mixes to make mesclun, to be eaten as young shoots to be cut. Salad seeds can germinate for 2 to 4 years.
Sow your lettuce for a bountiful harvest
Sowing techniquesSalads are sown in loose soil, broadcast or in shallow furrows. You can also sow them in cups to transplant them later in the garden. During the thinning out, remove the smallest shoots to leave room for the strongest ones by respecting intervals of 5 to 8 cm.
Regular sowing for a continuous harvestFor an uninterrupted harvest into the fall, sow every two weeks. Normally, you can resow when the seedlings from the previous sowing show their first leaves. For even easier gardening, choose lettuce seedlings in cups to be planted directly in the container or in the garden.
Harvest your lettuce for tasty meals
The right time to harvestHarvest your lettuces when they reach a height of between 15 and 20 cm, or when they form nice heads. Mowable salads are advantageous because you can pick the leaves as they are needed. Leave the heart of the lettuce in place when harvesting to see new leaves appear in 6-8 weeks.
Optimal pickingSalad is especially crisp and healthy when picked just before it is prepared. Ideally, it should be picked around noon, when the amount of unwanted nitrates in the leaves is lowest. The young leaves are usually very mild, while the firmer leaves offer a more intense taste.
The ideal salad varieties in young shoots
Frizzy Joe” Asian lettuce “Frizzy Joe” Asian lettuce is characterized by its curly, tapered leaves and its watercress-like taste. This variety is ideal as a young shoot to bring an exotic touch to your salads.
The oval leaves of “Bloody Mary” develop a radish-like taste and a beautiful red color even in less than ideal light conditions. This variety is perfect for adding a touch of color and flavor to your dishes.
Mizuna “Mandovi” and its spicy tasteMizuna “Mandovi” has a delicately spicy taste, bringing a touch of spice to your salads. Its fine, elegant leaves are a perfect match for other salad varieties.
Bison” is one of the most robust and hardy of the Roman lettuces, ideal for growing as a young plant. Its crunchy texture and slightly sweet taste make it an excellent choice for diversifying your salads.
Batavia “Redsea” with a slightly sweet tasteBatavia “Redsea”, obtained from iceberg lettuce with dark red leaves, has a slightly sweet taste. This variety will bring an original and colorful note to your plates.
The original batavia “Ondino “Finally, the batavia “Ondino” is distinguished by its very cut leaves, adding a touch of originality to your compositions. This variety combines aesthetics and flavor for surprising and delicious salads.
With these tips and tricks, you are now ready to grow a variety of tasty salads to delight your taste buds all year long. So don't wait any longer to plant, grow and enjoy!
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