Grow Your Own Salad Bowl With Cut-and-Come-Again Lettuce

Learn about growing lettuce in a container to create your own salad bowl of greens by sowing mesclun cut-and-come-again. 

If you like salads, consider growing your own salad bowl with a mesclun mix, that you can enjoy from a container in about a month. The term “mesclun” originated in France where they often use a “mix” of tender young greens in their salads, which may include lettuces, arugula, endive, chervil, or mustard greens.

You can often find these kinds of greens in the grocery store labeled “spring mix.” However, they are very easy to grow and there are many varieties to choose from.

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Growing Lettuce in a Container

Mesclun lettuce is commonly called “cut-and-come-again” greens. You will love the fact that once they grow tall enough, all you have to do is cut them, leaving about one to two inches behind, and they will grow back for an encore performance.

When to Grow Lettuce in Container

These greens grow best in the cool weather. That means early spring for my neck of the woods and they also grow well in the fall. When it gets too hot, the plants will bolt and try to flower, making for a bitter-tasting green. 

To avoid bolting, put your container in a place that has some shade during the hot afternoon sun. Also, the great benefit of growing lettuce in a container is that it can be moved with the sun, as the days get longer, and the trees leaf out.

 

Mesclun seeds come in a range of mixes and can be found just about anywhere. Some are spicy and some are sweet. I like to plant one of each for a tasty mix.

Some people sow (plant) additional containers every couple of weeks. That way there’s always a crop available to enjoy.

 

Toss your greens with a classic vinaigrette, which can be as simple as 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil, with a little mustard to combine the two. I like to use balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil with Dijon mustard.  

Growing lettuce in a container is something you must try. It’s fresh, it’s easy and so good for your health.

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P.S. If you are limited on space you may want to try Growing Herbs in a Strawberry Pot or Growing Herbs in a Burlap Bag. Both are perfect for balconies or growing close to the house for easy access. See these and more creative projects on my Gardening Page.

 

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