Grow Your Own Salad Bowl

If you like salads, consider growing your own 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.

Grow Your Own Salad Bowl

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

Also known as “cut-and-come-again” greens, you will love that 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.

Now is the time to plant them, since mesclun grows best in the cool weather. When it gets too hot, the plants will bolt and try to flower, making for a bitter-tasting green.  Mesclun seeds come in a range of mixes and can be found just about anywhere. Some are spicy and some are sweet. I picked one of each since I like them both. Some people will sow (plant) more containers every couple of weeks, to ensure a crop is always available. One thing you can do with a container to avoid bolting is to put it in a place that has some shade during the hot afternoon sun. Also, containers can be moved with the sun as the days get longer and the trees leaf out.

Lastly, 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 to two. I like to use balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil with Dijon mustard.  Grow your own salad bowl. It’s fresh, it’s healthy, it’s easy and it will save you money. What more could you ask for?