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How To Make A Salad Garden

Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Ellen Christian

Have you ever wondered about how to make a salad garden? Check out these salad gardening tips and learn about the best plants, layout, and containers.

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How to make a salad garden

How To Make A Salad Garden

One of my favorite things about spring and summer is that I get to eat more fresh garden salads. Usually, produce in the grocery store is very expensive in Vermont.  Everything has to be transported to us due to our short growing season.  

Since we have a container garden this year, I wanted to learn how to make a salad garden in our containers and raised beds. Stepping outside and being able to harvest fresh produce every day to make our salads is going to be a massive saving on our grocery budget.

Salad garden container

I planted most of my salad garden in our raised beds.  Our raised beds are outside the house on the way to the duck and chicken coop.  I can swing by, clip off some fresh lettuce leaves, and check for ripe vegetables each morning when I collect eggs.

While they cannot be moved, the central location makes it very convenient for me.   The weed block will keep the weeds out of my raised bed garden.  The basil and the strawberry pot can be moved around to allow them full sun during the spring and a bit of shade when the temperatures rise in the summer.

Salad garden layout

  • Growing a salad garden gives you access to fresh greens throughout the year. Make sure you consider your salad garden layout.
  • Make the container movable and move it to shade during the summer to extend the growing season for your lettuces.
  • If you’re worried about what your neighbors will think of your salad garden, use brightly colored containers for a cheerful look.

Best salad garden plants

  • Both calendulas and pansies are edible and will bring a splash of color to your garden’s greens.
  • Not all lettuces are green.  Try a red leaf variety for a little something different.
  • Don’t only grow lettuce.  Try a raised bed for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and other great salad vegetables.
  • Don’t forget the herbs.  Try a few basil plants or even some parsley.
  • Plant greens continuously & never pull the whole plant out. That way you will have fresh greens all year round.

How to make a salad garden

What to grow in a salad garden

The first foods available in our raised bed container garden are lettuce, arugula, pansies, and strawberries. The tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers will mature later in the summer.

By pinching back the lettuce, I hope to be able to extend its growing season long enough to enjoy all of my vegetables at once. The basil leaves can be shredded and added to the salad, or I may just use them in my homemade spaghetti sauce.  

Now that you know how to make a salad garden, will you be planting one this year?

How to make a salad garden

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How to make a salad garden

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26 thoughts on “How To Make A Salad Garden”

  1. Love this idea. I live in an apartment and have a small balcony garden with greens, herbs and a few medicinal plants. :) Thanks for sharing this at the #HomeMattersParty I'll be featuring this at this week's party. Do stop by and check it out ":)
    Reply
  2. This is a wonderful idea. I miss growing a big garden like we had as a kid. Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty
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  5. I do raised bed here in AZ, in fact getting them ready today. I put down chicken wire first (for ground squirrels) then weed barrier. My garden always looks like a prison to keep all the critters out. At the end of the season I open it up and let the critters have a buffet for being so patient.
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  9. This is fabulous, Ellen!  I love it.  I had never though about planting pansies with the garden, but it looks great.  
    Reply
  10. This is one wonderful activity to do during this spring and summer season.  It is still different when you grow your own vegetable garden and you are sure of the quality of the veggies you are eating.
    Reply
  11. I have that purple pansy in our flower garden :) I love growing my own lettuce..go outside cut it off, wash, and delicious!! Last year I grew tons of zucchini that's in my freezer. This year have a couple spaghetti squash and bunches of onions. Trying spinach, but can't see it yet.
    Reply
  12. I prefer spinach for salad over lettuce. I love raised beds though and I'm going to ask my complex if I can have a small plot to start planting some things. :)
    Reply
  14. I've never had a garden, but I love fresh veggies. I just don't like to get dirty so that's why I never learned how to make one. I'm weird I know!
    Reply
  15. I love when we start having fresh lettuce again. We always end up with some volunteer plants from last years' garden that surprise us. They are starting to peak through now despite the cold spring. Yours looks so neat and pretty.
    Reply

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