Home Grown: Create Your Own Kitchen Garden
Grow your own greens in the comfort of your kitchen for easy pickings
Want a year-round supply of nutritious leaves and herbs to enjoy? These five steps to growing salad greens and herbs – along with types to grow – will have you picking and mixing fresh salad every day. And, you won’t even need to leave the kitchen for the latest crop.
STEP 2: Choose sturdy plants
Select plants that will live a long, fruitful life. Some great picks are lamb’s lettuce, perpetual lettuce, rocket lettuce and mint – see below for more information on these.
Select plants that will live a long, fruitful life. Some great picks are lamb’s lettuce, perpetual lettuce, rocket lettuce and mint – see below for more information on these.
STEP 3: Add lucerne or sugarcane mulch
Do this and the soil will remain moist for longer and the leaves will stay cleaner (that is, free of splashed-up soil). Plus, no weeds will grow.
Do this and the soil will remain moist for longer and the leaves will stay cleaner (that is, free of splashed-up soil). Plus, no weeds will grow.
STEP 4: Fertilise
Liquid seaweed fertiliser encourages stronger, healthier plants that have better resistance to disease. To boost your seeds’ chances of germination, try soaking them in the solution – ask at your local garden centre the best way to do this for your chosen seeds.
Liquid seaweed fertiliser encourages stronger, healthier plants that have better resistance to disease. To boost your seeds’ chances of germination, try soaking them in the solution – ask at your local garden centre the best way to do this for your chosen seeds.
STEP 5: Use them or lose them
The sooner you start picking the leaves from your plants, the sooner new ones will sprout. At the same time, pick more advanced leaves to encourage fresh shoots. Most gardeners will tell you, unpruned plants die young.
The sooner you start picking the leaves from your plants, the sooner new ones will sprout. At the same time, pick more advanced leaves to encourage fresh shoots. Most gardeners will tell you, unpruned plants die young.
LET’S TALK PLANTS
There are plenty of plant varieties that will thrive in your kitchen space, but here are a few firm favourites. The reason: they need only morning sun and a little TLC…
There are plenty of plant varieties that will thrive in your kitchen space, but here are a few firm favourites. The reason: they need only morning sun and a little TLC…
Mint. Mint is best grown in its own pot or patch as it’s known as a space invader. It’s also a really thirsty plant and relies on a water-filled saucer under its pot or a daily soaking.
Perpetual lettuce. This type of lettuce grows upwards, so it’s best to pick the lower leaves first.
Lamb’s lettuce. A small leaf with a delicate flavour, lamb’s lettuce is a great pick for those living in an apartment. That’s mainly because it doesn’t grow tall and can be planted in a pot or window box.
Rocket. Rocket has a short life span and is a big drinker, so consider using a wetting agent to keep the soil damp.
Perpetual lettuce. This type of lettuce grows upwards, so it’s best to pick the lower leaves first.
Lamb’s lettuce. A small leaf with a delicate flavour, lamb’s lettuce is a great pick for those living in an apartment. That’s mainly because it doesn’t grow tall and can be planted in a pot or window box.
Rocket. Rocket has a short life span and is a big drinker, so consider using a wetting agent to keep the soil damp.
TELL USAre you a kitchen gardener? Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments below. We’d also love to have a stickybeak at your homegrown edibles.
MORE
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10 No-Fail Tricks to Help You Eat Healthier at Home
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MORE
10 Storage Ideas for Your Herbs and Spices
10 No-Fail Tricks to Help You Eat Healthier at Home
Our 10 Hottest Indoor Plants
How to Grow Edibles on Your Balcony
Since the mix you use ultimately dictates the nutritional value of your leaves, it’s a good idea to go with a good-quality organic potting mix.