I returned from holiday to a garden with few crops. I knew that builders and gardening do not mix well, so I had left plenty space for the builders to expand into, thus severely curtailing my planting. However, before I left I sowed a large container (a plastic fish box salvaged from the beach years ago) with salad leaves. And now I am reaping the rewards:
A mixed crop
Since I arrived home on Sunday evening I have had four meals containing leaves harvested from this box and there are plenty more to come. I chose to plant red mizuna and a red-leaved lettuce, plus there are a few self-seeded Claytonia in there. I can harvest exactly the amount I want, so my salads are always fresh.
If you want to start growing and only have a limited space, or worry that your skills are not up to it, get yourself a container and plant some seeds for salad leaves (you can buy a mixed packet). Choose cut-and-come-again varieties and you will have weeks of fresh food at a fraction of the cost of those plastic bags of mixed leaves you can buy in the supermarket. Plus the only packaging will be a seed packet or two and you won’t have unused food going to waste in your refrigerator.
This is why I garden – pesticide-free food, freshly harvested, no plastic bags, cheap and easy.
The Snail of Happiness 
davidprosser
/ May 21, 2015Welcome back traveller. I hope you both had a wonderful time and the terrible weather while you’ve been away hasn’t held up the building too much.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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katechiconi
/ May 21, 2015I think if I could only grow one thing, it would be tomatoes. I eat so many of them, and the clever plants just keep on producing. Of course, then I’d try and sneak some basil and maybe oregano, and how about…. Well, you get the idea.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 21, 2015Once you start, it’s hard to stop!
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katechiconi
/ May 21, 2015Why fight it…? I know it’s hopeless to expect me not to grow stuff! I just can’t help myself!
Use every available inch. Grow it up walls, put it in hanging baskets, utilise your windowsills…
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narf77
/ May 21, 2015This is why I follow your blog Ms Snail. You are a cornucopia of great ideas all tangled into one yarned up hippy babe. Keep up the good work, it’s wonderful. That, plus I get to take notes for my coming growing season 😉
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thecontentedcrafter
/ May 21, 2015That’s exactly how I grow in my tiny garden – I had an unending supply of salady bits all spring, summer and autumn. I also grew tomatoes for the first time here and was amazed at how well they did – but they also took a lot of room! I’m now in the quarter of the year when nothing much will grow here due to lack of sun in the courtyard – but know it won’t be long before things change again 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 22, 2015I love being able to pick fresh leaves and they can be fitted into even the smallest space in a container, as you have demonstrated. Tomatoes are just too big for lots of folks unless you get one of the trailing varieties to grow in a hanging basket.
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arlingwoman
/ May 22, 2015“One yarned up hippy babe.” Wow, now that is a cool description! And I love your lettuces. Mine are being eaten by a very greedy rabbit who deserves to go into Mr. MacGregor’s pot (minus the little blue jacket, of course). Happy (human) munching!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ May 22, 2015I think I may have to add that description to my ‘about’ page!
I’m surprised that my lettuces have not been consumed by slugs – the chickens really do seem to have reduced the mollusc population. Given the choice I’d rather have a rabbit in the pot than a whole heap of slugs 😉
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Wild Daffodil
/ May 22, 2015Great reminder – I’m gonna sow me some today!
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Lori Fontanes
/ May 24, 2015Great tips! And you can do herbs, too!
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