Salads tend to be a summer staple in most households. They are a quick easy meal and you don’t have to heat up the house.
This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of the products I have recommended, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. For more information, please see my disclosures.
Salad greens are an excellent and tasty addition to your lunchbox or dinner table any time of the year. They make the perfect light meal and are a great way to get more leafy greens in your diet.
Why not start growing your own lettuce. There are many options to help you have a steady fresh supply of greens at your fingertips. It’s a lot easier than you think and there are some great reasons why you should grow your own salad.
Home Grown Tastes Better
Starting with the obvious one first. Homegrown salad just plain tastes better. Yes, salad greens really do have different flavors!
It’s fresh! Grown in good soil, and it hasn’t been washed, sprayed, and processed days before it makes it on your plate.
If you haven’t had fresh, homegrown lettuce before, you’re in for a treat. Need a little more persuasion get your hands on some fresh lettuce from a gardening friend or your local farmers market. You’ll be ready to grow your own after the first bite.
Quality And Variety
One of the best parts of growing your own produce is that you control what goes in the soil and the plants. You get to pick what varieties you want to grow. That means you have a lot more options than what your local grocer offers.
Check out some new varieties like:
- Buttercrunch
- Mesclun
- Ice Queen
- Or a fun blend like Farmer’s Market Blend
When you buy at the grocery store the varieties offered are grown for ease and uniform growth. They are also varieties that may have a longer shelf-life. Flavor and nutrition aren’t on the priority list. Much of the produce you buy at the store will also lack nutrients.
The opposite is true when you grow your own. You can pick varieties that taste incredible. Some varieties do need to be eaten right after picking though.
It’s Healthier
Finally, your home-grown salad will be healthier. Did you know, nutrients quickly start to deteriorate after produce is harvested. When you grow your own, you can go from soil to table in less than an hour. It doesn’t get any fresher than that, which means you get more of the vitamins in your food.
You control the soil, the additives, and anything that happens to the plants while they grow. By growing your own you can eliminate the use of pesticides and insecticides which will reduce possible health risks from these chemicals. When you grow organic, you know it actually is organic.
What is your favorite variety to grow?
