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Growing Guide - Salad Vegetables |
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Lettuces
Lettuce come in many varieties and at Rocket Gardens we supply a good mixture of these. Lettuces like a good soil but will grow well on most soils especially if is well manured. The ground should be worked to a fine tilth. Plant seedlings in rows 12inches (30cm) wide at spacing ranging from 6 inches (15cm) – 9inches (23cm) depending upon variety. In the early part of the spring / summer the seedlings should be protected with horticultural fleece. Hoe well to eliminate weeds. To help avoid disease always water in the mornings.
Many varieties of lettuce can be closely spaced and used to obtain baby leaves for use in salads. Pick the leaves when plants are about 2-4 inches (5-10cm) high and leave in situ to continue cropping (cut and come again). Plants will normally regrow for up to 3 cuts.
This is a very effective method of production where space is limited.
Rocket
As the name suggests is very fast growing and highly productive – it’s also lovely and tasty in salads or on its own.
It will grow well on most soils. Make sure it is well watered to avoid running to seed.
Plant your seedlings very closely if you want to ‘cut to come again’ your Rocket or more widely approximately 6 inches (15cm) apart if you require larger plants. The leaves are tastier when they are small.
Endive
Good soil is required for Endives, they don’t like sticky clay. Keep weeds down by pulling or hoeing. Water thoroughly in dry weather otherwise plants will run to seed.
Space you seedlings approximately 10 inches (25cm) apart in rows 12 inches (30cm wide).
Leaf Beet (Rainbow Chard, Rhubarb Chard, Perpetual Spinach)
These seedlings will grow well in most soil types but will benefit from a good dose of manure or worm cast compost.
Plant seedlings approximately 12inches (30 cm) apart.
Remove any flower heads that may appear.
Watch out for slugs!
Start picking the leaves for salad as soon as they look large enough. Don’t let them get too big!
Spinach
Spinach requires a rich soil containing plenty of organic matter.
Plant your Rocket Gardens seedlings 3 inches (8.5cm) apart.
Hoe or hand weed to remove weeds and water well during periods of dry weather to avoid plants running to seed.
Pick outer leaves first when they look the right size for salads or for cooking (steaming is a quick and healthy way to cook spinach.) |
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