Growing green leaves not only enhances the beauty of the greenhouse but also helps you to keep fit all the time. It can be the most lovable experience for gardeners who own a greenhouse. A greenhouse provides a perfect environment to grow the supply of fresh nutrients and rich greens. Having a fresh salad with your meals made with health benefits offers fresh salad with good taste.
While gardening, you will learn how to take care of it, when to harvest it, how to manage pests, and some of the tasty dishes you can make with salad leaves.
GROW LEAVES IN A GREENHOUSE
Extended growing season: The UK climate is unpredictable. Short summers and long, cold winters help gardeners extend the growing season. You can start planting the seeds in early spring and harvesting fresh salad in winter.
Harsh weather and pest protection: Damaging leaves is relatively easy. It can be harmed due to heavy rain, wind or frost. Growing leaves in a greenhouse helps protect your leaves from such elements and provides better shelter. Moreover, pests are notorious for feasting on young leaves, and controlling them in greenhouse sites could be easy.
VARIETY OF SALAD IN THE GREENHOUSE:
We often get confused after looking at the large variety of salad leaves. We are unable to decide.
Mustard Greens: Their growth is faster than others and suits colder months. Mustard greens offer a spicy kick that can accompany milder salad leaves.
Rocket: Rocket, or arugula, has a spicy, peppery flavour that adds a kick to salads. It’s fast-growing, has tolerance to cool temperatures.
Spinach: Spinach is an excellent add-on in the greenhouse, offering tender, nutrient-rich leaves. You can use it in cooked salads as well as raw salads.
Endive and Chicory: Both endive and chicory are excellent for autumn and winter growing. The bitter leaves are a thriving mixture in salads.
HARVESTING TIPS
How to harvest: With the help of a scissor, cut the outer layer and let the central leaf grow wisely.
When to Harvest: Growing them for a long time affects their flavour, making them hard. Reap the leaves while they are young.
Salad leaves proliferate and can be harvested within 4-6 weeks. Try to do the “cut-and-come-again” method.
PROCEDURE OF HARVESTING SALAD LEAVES IN GREENHOUSE
You can start sowing the leaves as soon as February arrives and continue till autumn. Salad leaves don’t take up too much space; give them proper space to grow and ensure a better environment. You can grow these leaves in pots, trays or directly to the soil in the greenhouse. They need to be moisturised, but don’t overdo it with water.
Keep watering in the morning to keep them hydrated for the rest of the day. They might require frequent water on hot days. Most salad leaves require a temperature from 10°C to 20°C. So make sure to open the doors and windows to ventilate your greenhouse.
While learning the process, the first thing to remember is to find the accurate products that help you while harvesting. Bayton Horticulture Centre is the best answer to all your questions, where you can find every product that meets your needs. All the products are well-tried and trusted for your greenhouse.
Conclusion:
Gardening in a greenhouse can be a rewarding experience after getting this guidance. It provides you with healthy green in every season. Whether you are a fresher or have gardening knowledge, the process is simple, but the results are beneficial. Why not start sowing today and enjoy your garden’s fresh taste of home-grown salads?