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The supermarket shelves are full of
exotic looking salad leaves and charge a handsome price for assembling and
packaging for you to eat straight off the shelf. But these so called mixtures
can be grown by yourself and with a little thought you can have a good supply
throughout the year.
Chicory, Corn salad ( Lambs Lettuce
), Endive, Frilly Lettuce, Cress, Rocket and Oriental brassicas can
be grown quite quickly and provide you with gourmet salads.
Leaf salads are sensitive to
temperature and should be kept in the range of 50 - 68 F ( 10 -20 C ). Lower
than these temperatures causes germination to be erratic, any higher, established
plants may bolt.
It is best to start them off in a propagator
or covered in a plastic shroud at home where a watchful eye over them can be
maintained.
If growing outside, early cover
with cloches or fleece is recommended. Because of their fast growing nature
intercropping and catch cropping makes them easier to find space for. |
