🌿 Soil to Salad: A Beginner's Guide to Growing & Enjoying Fresh Garden Greens

From Seed to Plate in Just a Few Simple Steps

🪴 Step 1: Choose Your Salad Stars

Grow the easiest and tastiest salad greens & toppings:

Greens (fast & reliable):

  • Leaf lettuce (romaine, butterhead, oakleaf)

  • Spinach

  • Arugula

  • Kale (baby)

  • Swiss chard

Toppings to grow:

  • Cherry tomatoes

  • Cucumbers

  • Radishes

  • Carrots

  • Sugar snap peas

  • Herbs (basil, dill, parsley, chives)

  • Microgreens

Pro Tip: Choose 1–2 greens, 1–3 toppings, and 1 herb to start!

🧂 Step 2: Prepare Your Soil

  • Use a raised bed, grow bag, or containers with drainage.

  • Mix:

    • 60% compost

    • 30% peat moss or coconut coir

    • 10% perlite or vermiculite

  • Add a handful of worm castings or organic fertilizer.

  • Keep soil moist but not soggy.

🌱 Step 3: Plant Your Seeds

  • Follow spacing and depth on seed packet.

  • Plant cool-season crops (like lettuce, radishes) in spring/fall.

  • Warm-season crops (like tomatoes, cucumbers) after last frost.

  • Thin seedlings to prevent crowding.

Quick Timeline:

  • Leaf lettuce: 30–45 days

  • Radishes: 20–30 days

  • Cherry tomatoes: 60–70 days

  • Herbs: 30–50 days

☀️ Step 4: Light, Water, and Care

  • 6+ hours of sunlight per day or use a grow light

  • Water in the morning, 1–2 inches per week

  • Mulch with straw or leaves to hold moisture

  • Watch for pests: neem oil or soap spray works wonders!

✂️ Step 5: Harvest

  • Harvest outer leaves or cut baby greens with scissors

  • Pick tomatoes, cukes, and herbs regularly to encourage more growth

  • Wash produce gently in cool water

🥗 Step 6: Make Your Garden-Fresh Salad

Simple Garden Salad Recipe

  • 2 cups mixed greens

  • ½ cup chopped cucumber

  • ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 2 tbsp grated carrot

  • 1 tbsp fresh herbs (basil, parsley, or dill)

  • 1 tbsp olive oil + 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice

  • Salt & pepper to taste

🌼 Bonus Tips

  • Grow microgreens indoors for a year-round salad boost

  • Add edible flowers (nasturtium, pansies) for color

  • Reuse kitchen scraps: regrow green onions in water!

✨ Want More Garden-to-Table Ideas?

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