It may be cold, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fresh salad—especially if you have a greenhouse!
You can grow your own winter salad even if you don’t have a garden. Winter salads are rich in nutrients and vitamins, and they’re an easy way to get more greens into your diet. Winter salads also make great gifts for friends, family, or co-workers during the holidays.
Here’s how to grow salad greens all winter
First, purchase winter salad seeds or seedlings from your local garden center or farmer’s market. I recommend Bargain Seeds, as they are very low cost and good quality.
- Start your seedlings in pots of moist compost.
- When big enough to handle, transplant each seedling into individual plugs.
- Once the main growing season is over, clean your greenhouse and plant your winter salad plants into large pots, containers or the ground.
winter salads to grow
- Rocket
- Claytonia (Winter Purslane)
- Mizuna
- Mâche (Corn Salad)
- Mustard
- Pea Shoots
- Winter Lettuce
You can find several varieties of lettuce that will grow well during the winter months. Some of them include butterhead lettuce (also called Bibb or Boston) and romaine lettuce. Other types of greens that work well include radicchio, endive, and escarole.
Don’t forget, if for a head-start and a better crop, consider growing winter salad in a greenhouse, conservatory, or sunny porch. Also, growing salad greens indoors in winter: You can good results from growing your plants on windowsills, providing that there is enough sunlight.
