Whatever else you have in your garden, a salad within easy reach of your back (or front) door are always welcome. This tray of pots is outside my back door and sheltered from the rain. It might need moving somewhere more sheltered if it gets really windy but I can pick a few leaves without putting my shoes on which is my sort of convenience food. I’ve sown two types of rocket, two types of mesclun, Italian and lettuce plus some spinach ‘matador’. Not exactly microgreens but delicate and delicious. Just fill some pots with potting mix and sow seeds very finely. Keep moist with a hand-mister. Try polystyrene crates and buckets if you’re not worried about how they look. I like the fact they’re at waist height and it seems to deter the birds and keeps the dog’s nose out. Still time to sow and harvest before it gets really cold. You can choose Asian greens such as mizuna, mibuna and komatsuna to keep in greens into the colder months. Or just pot up some seedlings from the garden centre and pick them a leaf at a time. Growing salad greens in containers is one of the easiest edible crops you can have.
If you want another chance to plan your summer edible garden, join me at HANDMADE 2013 1-2 June 2013 in Wellington. I’ll be teaching a ‘totally totes‘ class there too.