Growing salad leaves

We've chosen two mixes plus rocket for the "Grow for Reading Town Meal" campaign. These are:

  • Asian leaves mix from Seed Co-operative
  • Lettuce leaves mix from Seed Co-operative
  • Cultivated Rocket from Moles Seeds
  • Wild Rocket from Moles Seeds

Sow successively every 2 to 3 weeks for a regular crop of cut-and-come-again leaves. Rocket tends to bolt during hot weather, and can be sown outdoors any time from March to September in rows 15cm apart. The growing season can be extended by sowing in a tunnel or greenhouse from August to February.

Download the RFGN Guide to Growing Salad Leaves (PDF format).

Asian leaves mix

This is a mix of taisai, mizuna, Swiss chard, Chinese cabbage Granaat, purple frills and golden frills.

Sow from March until August outside or use cover for earlier or later sowings. Tends to bolt if sown before mid-summer. Sow in rows 15cm apart. Cut when leaves are about 10cm high. Allow to regrow for a further 2-3 cuts.

Lettuce leaves mix

This is a mix of Black Seeded Simpson, Suzan, Merveille des Quatre Saisons, Lollo Bionda, Grazer Krauthauptel and Red Salad Bowl.

Sow seeds from February in seed trays and place in light at a temperature of 18ºC. Sow in situ from mid April. Cut when leaves are about 10cm high for baby leaf or allow to grow to full size.

Cultivated Rocket

This is described as a fast growing plant for use in salads. The leaves have a special rich, spicy flavour.

Wild Rocket

This is described as a very strong-flavoured version of the more commonly-known standard plain salad rocket. Smaller plant, with a narrower leaf shape.

Related resources

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Excellent book on growing vegetables with sections on techniques, a directory of vegetables, seasonal guide to jobs, and appendices on veg for the hungry gap, successional sowing and more.

How to create a New Vegetable Garden

Charles Dowding draws on his years of experience, to show how easy it is to start a new vegetable garden. Any plot -- whether a building site, overgrown with weeds or unwanted lawn -- can be turned into a beautiful and productive vegetable area. Charles's no-nonsense and straightforward advice is the perfect starting point for the beginner or experienced gardener. The book takes you step-by-step through: * Planning and early stages * Clearing the ground * Mulch - what, why, how? * Minimizing digging * Sowing and planting across the seasons * Growing in polytunnels and greenhouses It is filled with labour-saving ideas and the techniques that Charles uses to garden so successfully, and is illustrated throughout with photos and tales from Charles's first year in his new vegetable garden.

Organic Gardening The Natural No-Dig Way

A very helpful book about growing fruit and vegetables organically and without digging.

RFGN Guide to Growing Beetroot

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing beetroot.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing Beetroot (PDF format)

RFGN Guide to Growing French Beans

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing French beans, both climbing and dwarf.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing French Beans (PDF format)

RFGN Guide to Growing Onions

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing onions.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing Onions (PDF format)

RFGN Guide to Growing Radishes

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing radishes.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing Radishes (PDF format)

RFGN Guide to Growing Salad Leaves

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing salad leaves, including rocket.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing Salad Leaves (PDF format)

RFGN Guide to Growing Squash

The Reading Food Growing Network guide to growing squash.

Download: RFGN Guide to Growing Squash (PDF format)

Seed sowing techniques

Advice from the Royal Horticultural Society about how to sow seeds

Seed Viability Chart

Temperate Climate Permaculture's chart of seed viability times for the most common seeds used in gardens and farms